Integrated PlatformInnovative Solutions

Recognized as a global leader in novel small molecule drug discovery, Astex Pharmaceuticals™ employs a cutting-edge platform that rapidly delivers customized, high-quality drug leads with enhanced therapeutic potential.

A major challenge in conventional drug discovery and development is having to sort through the large number of hits derived through conventional screening.

Pyramid™: Fragment-Based Drug Discovery

Pyramid™ defines a process by which a range of high-throughput biophysical and computational techniques are used to experimentally characterize the interactions of very low molecular weight compounds (fragments) with their target proteins.

• Designed to reduce attrition during drug development
• Carefully monitors key characteristics such as ligand efficiency and in vivo activity during lead optimization
• Ensures delivery of potent, selective and low molecular weight compounds with optimized drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic properties
• Generates higher quality leads by optimizing key drug properties earlier in the process

Pyramid™ has been successfully applied by Astex Pharmaceuticals across a wide variety of therapeutic targets and disease areas, including those regarded as “intractable” by the pharmaceutical industry.

Pyramid™ has been used successfully to generate lead compounds for the potential treatment of cancer, viral infections, inflammation and Alzheimer’s disease.