Actives from MMV Open Access Boxes? A suggested way forward.

Area of Science:

• Drug Discovery
• Medicinal Chemistry
• Tropical Diseases

Background:

• Over 1 billion people globally suffer from neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
• NTDs disproportionately affect impoverished regions, causing significant economic losses.
• Collaborative drug discovery is crucial to alleviate the burden of these diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide guidelines for advancing drug discovery beyond hit identification for neglected tropical diseases.
• To support researchers utilizing the "Open Access Boxes" initiative.
• To strengthen capacity and enhance the impact of drug discovery efforts for NTDs.

Main Methods:

• The study outlines a workflow for hit-to-lead optimization.
• It details strategies for compound profiling and validation.
• Guidance is provided on navigating the early stages of drug development.

Main Results:

• The initiative "Open Access Boxes" provides researchers with access to screening compounds.
• The guidelines facilitate the progression of identified active compounds.
• Capacity building is a key outcome, enabling further research.

Conclusions:

• Effective strategies are needed to advance drug discovery for neglected tropical diseases.
• The "Open Access Boxes" initiative and accompanying guidelines support this goal.
• Moving identified actives beyond initial screening is essential for developing new treatments.