Biophysical Methods in Drug Discovery: Combination is Key The Project Kinetics for Drug Discovery

ITQB – IBET SEMINAR

Title: Biophysical Methods in Drug Discovery: Combination is Key
The Project Kinetics for Drug Discovery.

Speaker: Matthias Frech

Affiliation: Director Molecular Interactions & Biophysics-Merck KGaA, Germany

Host: Pedro Matias

Abstract:

In the recent years we have seen a remarkable increase of the interest in biophysical methods to investigate structure-function relationships in proteins. Biophysical methods describe a whole host of physical principles and techniques that may be applied to the study of biological systems. These are often employed successfully within the early phases of drug discovery, to support the identification of lead compounds. The information required from biophysical studies largely depends upon the stage of drug discovery at which these studies are initiated. As a compound, or potential drug molecule is progressed more detailed questions about the precise nature and the kinetics of the interaction may be posed.

The method portfolio composed of calorimetry, surface plasmon resonance, NMR spectroscopy and protein crystallography gives insight into the interactions of our molecules from different perspectives. This helps to understand the mode of mechanism and supports the decision making in the early phase of drug discovery. An approach like fragment screening is believed to identify promising starting points for chemistry parallel to the more classical high throughput screening. Examples are shown to discuss and demonstrate how the combined approach of biophysical can support the lead discovery process.

In this context the European Innovative Medicine Initiative and the launched Project: Kinetics for Drug Discovery play a major role to enhance he use of kinetic data in drug candidate identification and their optimization. An Introduction to the project K4DD will be presented.