Fragment-based drug discovery and design technology could dramatically improve the prospects of identifying suitable development compounds and feed withering clinical pipelines. These technologies have already generated several interesting compounds. If successful, fragment-based design could make a significant difference in the productivity of drug discovery programs and help to lower their cost.

Scope:

• Fragment-based discovery and design: evolution of compound screening, Lipinski’s Rules, Rule of Five, Rule of Three, the Golden Ratios, low-molecular-weight fragments.
• Screening methods: computational, biological, X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance.
• Specialist companies: Astex Therapeutics, Evotec, Graffinity Pharmaceuticals, Locus Pharmaceuticals, Plexxikon, SGX Pharmaceuticals, Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Vernalis, ZoBio.
• Outlook: Development compounds, fee-for-service, exploring novel chemotypes.

Company Profiles:

• Astex Therapeutics
• Evotec
• Graffinity Pharmaceuticals
• Locus Pharmaceuticals
• Plexxikon
• SGX Pharmaceuticals
• Sunesis Pharmaceuticals
• Vernalis
• ZoBio