Our group of experienced medicinal chemists use state-of-the-art methods for:

• Identifying early hit molecules that bind to a target, with an emphasis on using fragment-based lead generation.
• Undertake structure-guided development of hit molecules to develop chemical lead series.
• Further optimise leads to ensure the compounds produced have the desired features to make them suitable for use as drugs.

Working throughout a modern and generous lab space, our labs are fully equipped to perform synthetic chemistry on a small to multi-gram scale.

We have 40 fume hoods dedicated to Medicinal Chemistry across three adjoining laboratories. These areas are fully modernised and well equipped for undertaking contemporary chemistry. We also have a dedicated toxic/special operations lab, which houses a glovebox for manipulating reagents where an inert atmosphere is required.

We develop innovative chemical synthesis and optimise reactions with the use of three Biotage^® microwave synthesisers and a ThalesNano H-cube^® to perform catalytic hydrogenations. Reactions can be promptly monitored using a Waters Acquity LC-MS. High boiling point solvents can be readily removed from compounds using either a Biotage^® V-10 or Genevac evaporation system and we can use a freeze dryer to further remove water from samples. Purification of compounds are routinely carried out on one of four automated flash chromatography systems and those compounds requiring a higher purity can undergo purification using one of our two Agilent preparative HPLC systems.

We also have privileged use of the Roger Griffin Molecular Graphics Suite to support computer-aided drug design activities.