Combinatorial Chemistry: A Powerful Tool Emerges for the Pharmaceuticals, Materials, and Chemicals Research Industries
16-Jul-2002
15 July 2002
Combinatorial chemistry comprises a series of technologies capable of rapidly
synthesising and generating millions of related compound collections. These
have prospective value as pharmaceuticals, catalysts, or other materials.
Combinatorial technologies offer significant advances over traditional
scientific research methodologies. In particular, their high-speed approach
promises faster results at considerably lower costs than conventional
techniques.
A recent analysis by Technical Insights (www.technical-insights.frost.com), a
business unit of Frost & Sullivan titled ^ÑCombinatorial Chemistry^Ò, reveals
that such attributes have underlined the assimilation of combinatorial
chemistry into the drug discovery process, where expenditure and
time-sensitivity issues are paramount. The globalisation of the drug market and
the need to swiftly uncover treatments for an ever-expanding roster of
identifiable diseases are further bolstering demand.
"Drug companies hope for three new drugs a year to stay competitive. That
becomes even more critical as patents on popular drugs run out and generic
copies come to market, and as the government puts pressure on drug costs
through Medicare," comments Technical Insights Research Analyst Miriam Nagel.
With its ability to offer higher quality leads in the testing phase itself,
combinational chemistry constitutes a powerful tool for drug discovery and
development.
The seminal human genome project is also expanding the use of combinatorial
searches. Computerised scrutiny of a projected 30,000 genes and thousands of
proteins is expected to yield information on hitherto unidentified drug
targets. Combinatorial technologies alone are expected to be able to
efficiently process such a mass of information.
With time and money at a premium, the trend is toward collaborative ventures
between drug and biotechnology companies, as the former seek to speedily usher
novel and superior drugs into the market. With outsourcing R&D needs and
cost-sharing being the order of the day, biotech companies are increasingly
eager to muscle their way into this lucrative market.
The clamour for catalysts from the chemicals and materials research industries
is also enlarging the market for combinatorial chemistry. The developmental
processes are more complex in these markets due to the large body of variables
under consideration. This makes combinatorial technologies the ideal mechanism
to produce rapid results.
"The primary goal of pharmaceutical research is the development of a single
compound that is effective as a drug, but the primary goal of materials
development is discovery of systems that meet a number of physical, chemical,
and structural requirements," explains Ms. Nagel.
"Materials development requires significantly different techniques from drug
research. Unlike focused chemical synthesis for diversity within known metrics,
in materials development, there are synthesis, mixtures, and process variables
with an emphasis on broad coverage and synergy. The development of a catalyst
is difficult and individual for each system, and each could involve several
molecular species and process variables," Ms. Nagel continues.
Environmental pressures also stimulate the creation of new catalysts. Such
catalysts are considered integral for reducing emissions from fossil fuel
burning and boosting the viability of alternative energy sources such as fuel
cells.
Success will depend on sustaining the gains promised by combinatorial
technologies. As Ms. Nagel says: "For instance, when combinatorial
technologies are used in the development of catalysts, evaluation of potential
candidates is followed by scaling up to next generation candidate level, which
is a costly and time-consuming process".
The most pressing technological challenge will be to effectively marshal the
vast quantity of information that will inevitably be generated.
The report is available to purchase from: Frost & Sullivan, 4100 Chancellor
Court, Oxford Business Park, Oxford, OX4 2GX, UK. Contact:
EdgarChadwick@frost.com ,tel: +44 (0) 1865 398636 , fax +44 (0) 1865 779867
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