R&D Technology

R&D Technology at Ferring

Introduction
Ferring’s commitment to creating new medicines means that the company invests heavily in technology to support the R&D process. Ferring has particular expertise in peptide1 [url: "/en/randd/Creating+New+Medicines/Ferrings+expertise/Peptides.htm#peptec" ] technology [url: "/en/randd/Creating+New+Medicines/Ferrings+expertise/Peptides.htm#peptec" ] and small molecule [url: "/en/randd/Creating+New+Medicines/Ferrings+expertise/Small+Molecules.htm" ] therapeutics [url: "/en/randd/Creating+New+Medicines/Ferrings+expertise/Small+Molecules.htm" ] and has developed two proprietary drug discovery [url: "/en/randd/Creating+New+Medicines/Drug+Development/Drug+discovery.htm" ] technology platforms for these areas of expertise. In addition, Ferring is continuously upgrading the technological support [url: "/en/randd/Creating+New+Medicines/R+D+Technology.htm#technological_support" ] that scientists can draw on to assist their work.

Technological Support
Ferring’s success in drug discovery is achieved through drawing on the company’s expertise in peptide1 [url: "/en/randd/Creating+New+Medicines/Ferrings+expertise/Peptides.htm" ] and small molecule [url: "/en/randd/Creating+New+Medicines/Ferrings+expertise/Small+Molecules.htm" ] chemistry backed by state of the art technological support. In the creation of new medicines, there are a number of ways that technology can help scientists conduct research and development including the use of specialised software that allows scientists to build model potential compounds virtually.

Ferring has recently introduced computational chemistry2 and in-silico screening3 of virtual compound libraries4. This supports Ferring’s scientists in their endeavours to design and modify new compounds by allowing them to virtually analyse potential compounds before beginning laboratory work.

Ferring uses high-throughput (HT) chemistry, a system which allows the creation of peptide and small molecule libraries in order to conduct rapid screening of potential compounds. This combinatorial chemistry5 method uses automated and semi-automated processes to prepare new compounds from sets of building blocks.

To complement the HT chemistry, Ferring uses high-throughput screening6 of proprietary and compound libraries4, in order to tailor peptides or small molecule peptidemimetics7 to produce the desired therapeutic effect.

Glossary Entries
1) peptide - Any compound consisting of two or more amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Peptides provide a link between a gene and its function.
2) computational chemistry - The use of computers to aid in the analysis of chemicals.
3) in-silico screening - In silico is an expression used to mean 'performed on computer or via computer simulation.' In-silico screening involves the screening of compounds using computers for the purposes of drug discovery.
4) compound libraries - A compound library or chemical library is a collection of stored chemicals usually used ultimately in high-throughput screening or industrial manufacture. The chemical library can consist in simple terms of a series of stored chemicals. Each chemical has associated information such as the chemical structure, purity, quantity, and physiochemical characteristics of the compound.
5) combinatorial chemistry - Involves the rapid synthesis or the computer simulation of a large number of different but structurally related molecules.
6) high-throughput screening - A method for scientific experimentation especially used in drug discovery and relevant to the fields of biology and chemistry. Using robotics, data processing and control software, liquid handling devices, and sensitive detectors, HTS allows a researcher to quickly conduct millions of biochemical, genetic or pharmacological tests. Through this process one can rapidly identify active compounds, antibodies or genes which modulate a particular biomolecular pathway. The results of these experiments provide starting points for drug design and for understanding the interaction or role of a particular biochemical process in biology.
7) peptidemimetics - Compounds that mimic the effects of peptides.

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