Developing an effective drug is akin to searching for a needle in a haystack among millions of potential chemical compounds, according to researchers at Siberian State Medical University. The university scientists state that their proposed approach acts as a strong magnet, allowing for the rapid elimination of unpromising options and the selection of a few candidate choices for further experimental testing. The authors of the study explained that the new algorithm, based on bioinformatics tools, predicts the cellular processes it might affect based on the chemical composition of the compound. They claim that this approach can reduce the time and cost of the initial phase of drug development by at least 30-40%, focusing efforts on promising molecules.
Igor Khlusov, head of the Laboratory of Cellular and Microfluidic Technologies at Siberian State Medical University, stated: “The advantage and novelty of our approach lie in its comprehensiveness and accessibility. We not only predict whether a substance will bind to one target but also analyze its potential global impact on all body systems at once, identifying the genetic pathways it activates or deactivates.”
University specialists affirm that their development has a dual practical significance. Firstly, it improves the selection of promising medical and biological molecules. According to the scientists, although computer-aided drug design is a rapidly evolving field globally, many similar systems require immense computing power. The study authors explained that the advantage of the algorithm developed at Siberian State Medical University is its reliance on open databases and search engines. This makes the method accessible and cost-effective.
