An integrated approach to fragment-based lead generation: philosophy, strategy and case studies from AstraZeneca's drug discovery programmes.
Fragment-based lead generation (FBLG) has recently emerged as an alternative to traditional high throughput screening (HTS) to identify initial chemistry starting points for drug discovery programs. In comparison to HTS screening libraries, the screening sets for FBLG tend to contain orders of magnitude fewer compounds, and the compounds themselves are less structurally complex and have lower molecular weight. This report summarises the advent of FBLG within the industry and then describes the FBLG experience at AstraZeneca. We discuss (1) optimising the design of screening libraries, (2) hit detection methodologies, (3) evaluation of hit quality and use of ligand efficiency calculations, and (4) approaches to evolve fragment-based, low complexity hits towards drug-like leads. Furthermore, we exemplify our use of FBLG with case studies in the following drug discovery areas: antibacterial enzyme targets, GPCRs (melanocortin 4 receptor modulators), prostaglandin D2 synthase inhibitors, phosphatase inhibitors (protein tyrosine phosphotase 1B), and protease inhibitors (b-secretase).
Albert
Jeffrey S
JS
CNS Lead Generation Department, AstraZeneca R&D, 1800 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA. jeffrey.albert@astrazeneca.com
Blomberg
Niklas
N
Breeze
Alexander L
AL
Brown
Alastair J H
AJ
Burrows
Jeremy N
JN
Edwards
Philip D
PD
Folmer
Rutger H A
RH
Geschwindner
Stefan
S
Griffen
Ed J
EJ
Kenny
Peter W
PW
Nowak
Thorsten
T
Olsson
Lise-Lotte
LL
Sanganee
Hitesh
H
Shapiro
Adam B
AB
D020650:Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques; D015195:Drug Design; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods*; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000379:methods; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008024:Ligands; D011485:Protein Binding; D011506:Proteins / Q000187:drug effects*; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008024:Ligands; D011506:Proteins; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries