Kinetic efficiency: the missing metric for enhancing compound quality?
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Updated: May 29, 2026

Generic Protocol for Optimization of Heterologous Protein Production Using Automated Microbioreactor Technology
Published on: December 15, 2017
Geoffrey A Holdgate1, Adrian L Gill
1Structure & Biophysics, Discovery Enabling Capabilities & Sciences, AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom. geoff.holdgate@astrazeneca.com
Abstract:
The kinetics of ligand-target interactions have been recognised as being instrumental in dictating the efficacy of drug action. Increased focus on kinetic signatures in drug discovery has concincided with improvements in label free methodology for measuring kinetic parameters. Simultaneously, focus has also been applied to increasing the quality of compounds, in terms of their physicochemical properties. To facilitate this drive towards higher compound quality, metrics such as ligand efficiency and enthalpic efficiency have been employed. We propose another metric, kinetic efficiency, that may be used pragmatically to help identify those compounds displaying differentiated kinetic behaviour. The combination of these metrics has the potential to improve decision-making in drug discovery leading to higher quality compounds and series.
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