Stories|Faster, Smarter Drug Development: High-Throughput Screening at HiPhaX
Faster, Smarter Drug Development: High-Throughput Screening at HiPhaX
Life Science and healthcare
High-Throughput Pharmaceutical Screening at Room Temperature
A groundbreaking initiative to advance structure-based drug development has been successfully implemented at HiPhaX beamline at Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY. Supported by a €60,000 Hi-Acts UCI grant in 2023, the project focused on enabling fragment screening experiments at physiologically relevant conditions—regulated temperature and controlled humidity.
Key Achievements
The project established a fully automated and remote-controlled measurement chamber, offering unparalleled stability and accuracy (+/- 0.5% relative humidity and +/- 0.1°C). The installation of a robotic arm and sample storage hotel significantly increased throughput by automating the sample exchange process. Initial studies on Klebsiella pneumoniae fosfomycin resistance protein (FosAKP) revealed structural changes influenced by environmental conditions, demonstrating the system's potential to uncover new insights for pharmaceutical applications.
Bridging Science and Industry
Developed in collaboration with suna-precision GmbH, this cutting-edge technology positions DESY as a leading partner for pharmaceutical companies. High-throughput room temperature screening offers enhanced relevance for drug development compared to conventional cryogenic methods, which can distort protein-fragment interactions.
By replicating near-physiological conditions, the technique enables pharmaceutical firms to design more effective drug candidates. Its automation and high-throughput capabilities align with industry needs for speed and precision, making it a valuable asset for drug discovery pipelines.
Future Outlook
Discussions with pharmaceutical partners are underway to explore the system's commercial applications. Further refinement of the software, including AI-assisted analysis, promises to elevate efficiency and broaden accessibility.
This initiative exemplifies the potential for synchrotron facilities to serve not only the scientific community but also industry stakeholders, fostering innovation at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and societal needs.
Are you interested in collaborating with us on High-Throughput Pharmaceutical Screening at controlled temperatures and humidity? Feel free to contact us at Info@Hi-Acts.de .
