For the study, David Myszka, founder of Biosensor Tools and director of the Center for Biomolecular Interaction Analysis at the University of Utah, used surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to screen fragments in the Maybridge Ro3 collection against stabilised G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) provided by Heptares Therapeutics1.
Several new classes of compounds were detected from the Ro3 library, which are accelerating drug discovery efforts around these receptors.
Using the follow-up studies, Thermo Fisher Scientific is now planning to pursue the next stage in elaborating compounds for drug development.
Myszka said while fragment screening by SPR has become standard practice, this is the first example of a successful SPR-based fragment screen against GPCRs.
"One major factor contributing to our success was the integrity of the Maybridge Ro3 Fragments, " Myszka said.