Medicinal Chemistry

Synthesis and pharmacological chemistry, run alongside the studies they support

Chemists, analysts, and pharmacologists work on the same programs. Compound design, formulation, and assay feedback stay connected, so studies are more likely to succeed and to generate insight.

Synthesis

Synthesis of compounds in support of drug discovery is at the center of our chemistry work. Our chemistry team covers synthesis, analytics, and formulation, so we can deliver the compounds and dose forms our studies and partners need. Typical activities include:

• Small molecules as drug-like compounds or screening reagents

• Building blocks and intermediates for other programs

• Focused libraries and analog series for lead optimization

• Patent examples and validation of patent methods and products

• Scale-up methods and salt forms

• Purification and characterization of specific enantiomers

• Metabolites and analytical standards, including potential impurities

Focused libraries

In small molecule programs, variation and assay both improve compounds and support broad example space in patents. We make the variations and return assay data to chemists quickly, so feedback arrives before the next round is underway. This shortens the iteration cycle and reduces effort spent on less promising structures. SAR modeling is usually retained by our partners; we are happy to recommend modeling and structural biology input when useful.

Quality

Compounds and samples are characterized to confirm identity, stability, and purity: NMR (13C and 1H, with other modes available), MS with MSn fragmentation, and purity by ELSD coupled to UV and MS as needed. We also use IR, optical rotation, and elemental analysis, and validate formulation content and stability by LC-UV/ELSD where required.

Patent-targeted work

Our chemists work to the requirements of IP protection. We prepare patent examples in written form or with accompanying synthesis, test third-party methods reported in patents, validate claims with associated biological tests, and review patent text. We also search patents for relevant disclosures and interpret their practical implications.

Pharmacological Chemistry

Pharmacology is central to what we do, and we run studies with medicinal chemistry support throughout. Our chemistry services support pharmacology in several ways:

• Formulation and stability of the dose form

• Selection and preparation of appropriate salts

• Preparation of metabolites and standards

• Interpretation of bioanalytics spectra and validation of assay methods

• Assessment of active ingredient purity and properties

• Re-purification of active ingredient where needed

Experimental formulation

Whether an active ingredient can be stably formulated and delivered is a key question in any program. Early efficacy studies are more convincing with excipients close to those used in commercial products, which also eases acceptance of preclinical and toxicology data. We hold many major excipients and can formulate with very low amounts of material, since producing the substance is often the most expensive step. This extends to experimental oral dose forms that give stable results or simulate final forms such as capsules and enteric-coated capsules.

Analytics and pharmacokinetics

Our analytics group supports both pharmacology studies and compound and formulation quality assays. We combine Agilent HPLC and Sciex triple-quad mass spectrometers for fast-turnaround PK and distribution data, and pair PK studies with experimental formulation where needed to find the best way to apply a compound series in vivo. Routine work includes: