Lead Discovery Services in IBD Drug Discovery

Once the target has been identified and validated, the next stage of the drug discovery process involves lead compound discovery, also known as lead compound identification and screening, in which multiple drug candidates are developed. This process involves the development of biologically relevant assays to validate in biochemical and/or cell-based assays that the lead compounds are able to reach the target and modulate its activity in vivo, while operating within acceptable safety limits. In addition, to maximze the likelihood of target discovery and subsequent lead discovery, multiple screening techniques must be used to identify promising lead candidates.

Our Lead Discovery Services

Ace Therapeutics' lead discovery service focuses on the identification and screening of IBD drug candidates. The service can be used as a stand-alone project or integrated as part of a medicinal chemistry optimization program to build a customized solution to meet client's IBD drug discovery needs.

Using reliable high-throughput screening assays, multi-modal plate readers, advanced high-content imaging instrumentation, integrated automation for liquid handling and powerful analytical software, our experts help you quickly and efficiently identify and validate compounds that are best suited as drug candidates for IBD.

Our capabilities include:

• Lead compound characterization. We use techniques such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR) or isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) to measure the degree of binding of the lead compound to the target.
• Selective analysis. We help our clients assess the selectivity of lead compounds to their targets to minimize off-target effects.
• In vivo and in vitro testing. We conduct bioassays to evaluate the efficacy, potency and toxicity of lead compounds, including cell-based assays, animal models and pharmacokinetic studies.
• Computational chemistry. We offer a broad range of computational and research tools and expertise to effectively and efficiently support IBD drug discovery programs. Depending on the experimental information available to the client, ad hoc modeling approaches will be selected from a wide range of tools, including ligand- or structure-based modeling (pharmacophore or docking), molecular dynamics, virtual screening, prediction of physicochemical properties, homology modeling, library design and filtering.
• Custom synthesis. We synthesize candidate lead compounds and evaluate a range of properties of potential lead compounds, including selectivity, binding mechanisms and kinetic analysis, dose-response curves, tractability to modifications, potency, in vitro toxicity, and orthogonal testing.
• Protein production, assay development and protein engineering. We offer a wide range of services to support IBD drug discovery and optimization programs, including protein production and purification / assay development and validation / target-based and whole-cell HTS and compound analysis / optimization for biologics and protein engineering.

Our Advantages

• With a broad range of methods, technologies and screening libraries, you have a lot of hit identification options open to you.
• We provide a broad suite of hit identification services that can deliver high-quality, validated hit compounds for your IBD drug discovery project.
• We conduct hit-to-lead development projects in an efficient cycle of rational design, synthesis and biological evaluation.
• Our dedicated hit identification teams have the expertise and experience to help you uncover hits that you can progress with confidence.
• We have an extensive track record of delivering high-quality lead series to our clients within agreed timelines across a broad range of target classes.

Ace Therapeutics' experts work closely with a variety of clients in early-stage IBD drug discovery programs to identify compounds from virtual screens, prioritize high-throughput screening hits, or generate quantitative data to advance drug development. If you are interested in our services, please do not hesitate to contact us.