Three Ways Drug Researchers Find Lead Compounds
In the field of drug discovery, researchers typically begin the process by identifying a target molecule and validating it as a major cause of disease. Once they find a suitable target, researchers must then begin the search for a promising drug molecule, often referred to as a “lead compound.” Following are three ways scientists find lead compounds: - Nature: One of the oldest sources of medicinal compounds, nature plays host to a wide range of bioactive substances. While the large majority of nature-based research has focused on the medicinal properties of plants, researchers have discovered promising compounds in bacteria and mold. - Biotechnology: Over the past few decades, scientists have discovered many ways to genetically engineer living systems and cause them to produce specific biological molecules. - High-throughput screening: One of the most common drug discovery methods, high-throughput screening can test a large volume of compounds against the target molecule in a relatively short period of time.