History, evolution, and trends in compound management for high throughput screening

Area of Science:

• Drug Discovery and Development
• Chemical Biology
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• High throughput screening (HTS) has led to exponential growth in compound library sizes.
• Effective management of these large libraries is critical for efficient drug discovery.
• Automated systems have been developed to address the challenges of compound management.

Observation:

• The evolution of automated hardware and software for compound management began in the early 1990s.
• These systems are integral to modern drug discovery pipelines.
• The author provides a personal perspective on this technological development.

Findings:

• Compound management technology has advanced significantly since the early 1990s.
• Current automated systems are sophisticated and essential for managing large chemical libraries.
• The historical development showcases a direct response to the needs of high throughput screening.

Implications:

• Continued innovation in compound management is crucial for future drug discovery successes.
• Understanding the historical trajectory informs future technological advancements.
• Optimized compound management accelerates the identification of potential drug candidates.