The role of the medicinal chemist in drug discovery — then and now

Medicinal chemists paly a crucial role in the drug discovery process through the selection and synthesis of compounds that establish structure–activity relationships and achieve efficacy and safety in preclinical animal testingMany aspects of the medicinal chemist's role have changed since the early era of drug discovery when animal testing and small, informal project teams dominated the process.Combinatorial chemistry, high-throughput screening and molecularly defined targets that allow structure-based drug design have changed the chemist's role in the modern era.In vitro screens for pharmacokinetic properties, the focus on synthesizing drug-like compounds, and in vitro toxicity screens are important new developments that aid the medicinal chemist's job today.Suggestions for improving the drug discovery process include more in vivo testing earlier in the drug discovery process, allowing medicinal chemists to champion their drug candidate during its development; and passing on the tacit knowledge of experienced medicinal chemists to their younger colleagues.