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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Nano-Differential Scanning Fluorimetry for Screening in Fragment-based Lead Discovery
Published on: May 16, 2021
Adventures in drug discovery: potent agents based on ligands for cell-surface receptors
1Vascular Research Team, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477-0776, USA. bmaryano@prdus.jnj.com
Abstract:
How does one go about discovering new drugs? This question is addressed by descriptions of drug discovery research in three project areas that pertain to antagonist ligands for cell-surface receptors. The molecular targets of interest are protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1), vasopressin receptors (V1a and V2 subtypes), and the fibrinogen receptor (GPIIb/IIIa). I present different approaches to the identification of high-affinity ligands for these receptors, en route to drug candidates. The PAR-1 project resulted in a pharmacological tool compound that facilitated in vivo proof-of-principle studies, whereas the vasopressin and fibrinogen receptor projects resulted in several preclinical development compounds, three of which advanced into human clinical trials.
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