SMCVdb: a database of experimental cellular toxicity information for drug candidate molecules

Many drug discovery exercises fail because small molecules that are effective inhibitors of target proteins exhibit high cellular toxicity. Early and effective assessment of toxicity and pharmacokinetics is essential to accelerate the drug discovery process. Conventional methods for toxicity profiling, including in vitro and in vivo assays, are laborious and resource-intensive. In response, we introduce the Small Molecule Cell Viability Database (SMCVdb), a comprehensive resource containing toxicity data for over 24 000 compounds obtained through high-content imaging (HCI). SMCVdb seamlessly integrates chemical descriptions and molecular weight data, offering researchers a holistic platform for toxicity data aiding compound prioritization and selection based on biological and economic considerations. Data collection for SMCVdb involved a systematic approach combining HCI toxicity profiling with chemical information and quality control measures ensured data accuracy and consistency. The user-friendly web interface of SMCVdb provides multiple search and filter options, allowing users to query the database based on compound name, molecular weight range, or viability percentage. SMCVdb empowers users to access toxicity profiles, molecular weights, compound names, and chemical descriptions, facilitating the exploration of relationships between compound properties and their effects on cell viability. In summary, the database provides experimentally derived cellular toxicity information for over 24 000 drug candidate molecules to academic researchers, and pharmaceutical companies. The SMCVdb will keep growing and will prove to be a pivotal resource to expedite research in drug discovery and compound evaluation. Database URL: http://smcvdb.rcb.ac.in:4321/.