Some of you here may have noticed that I've posted this question to two mailing lists. Let me share a follow-up that occurred on JAT list, since it's a closed group, and the idea is worth sharing.
Unlike the verb "target" which can live comfortably in both worlds,
the word 標的とする in Japanese loses its "little arrow's targeting direction" outside the
pharmaceutical field.
My original workaround was, among other things, to add 創薬 to give 標的 its direction:
(精神病の)症状が具体的な創薬標的として掲げられているわけではない。
or 症状は、創薬の標的にはなっていなかった。
This
feeble attempt at keeping the word 標的, however, pales in
comparison when we have the 治療薬ではない solution. With this ending,
moreover, 対象とする is the right choice. 標的とする adds only noise that detracts
from topic delivery of the sentence. Try squeezing 標的 where 対象 is, and it starts jumping up and down screaming 'hey, look at me, me, me!'
Funny how that happens, but we do want the Japanese output to behave just like the English one.
神経弛緩薬又はメジャートランキライザー(強力精神安定剤)は一般に「抗精神病薬」と呼ばれるが、特定の症状や精神障害を対象とする「精神病」
治療薬ではない。