Small Molecules

Small Molecule Therapeutics

As well as peptides, Ferring is also specialised in researching and developing low molecular weight1 small molecule drugs Ferring’s small molecule technology allows drug and target discovery in non-peptide and peptidomimetic compounds such as g-protein coupled receptor (GCPR) agonists2 and protease inhibitors3.

Ferring markets a number of small molecules including PENTASA. [url: "http://pentasaus.com/" ] In addition, a recent small molecule success by Ferring was the discovery of a vasopressin V2 agonist, the compound FE 106483, which is designed to treat nocturia and is currently in phase II clinical trials.Glossary Entries
1) molecular weight - The sum of the atomic weight's of all the atoms constituting a molecule; the mass of a molecule relative to the mass of a standard atom, now 12C (taken as 12.000). Relative molecular mass (Mr) is the mass relative to the dalton and has no units.
2) g-protein coupled receptor (GCPR) agonists - The largest single class of cell-surface receptors in the human body and one of the most important families of target proteins for the development of new medicines.
3) protease inhibitors - A compound that interferes with the ability of certain enzymes to break down proteins. Some protease inhibitors can keep a virus from making copies of itself (for example, AIDS virus protease inhibitors), and some can prevent cancer cells from spreading.

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