High-throughput screening-driven lead discovery: Meeting the challenges of finding new therapeutics

The pharmaceutical industry faces a number of challenges that have cumulatively led to a decline in productivity, despite increasing levels of investment in research and development. It is in this context that some researchers and business analysts are questioning the value of the high-throughput screening (HTS) paradigm for the discovery of new therapeutics. While this criticism may be premature, significant changes are occurring in HTS-driven lead discovery to address the failure of drug candidates in the clinic. This article highlights some of these changes and their potential impact.