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Discovery Chemistry Services

Our services combine extensive industry experience with advanced automation and machine learning-powered analysis and design to guide rapid progress of small molecules from any stage to IND-ready status. Our expert drug discovery chemists use high quality and high throughput data to ensure the key issues are addressed at the right moment to drive successful translation.

Chemistry Guides Key Decisions

Discovery chemists guide key decisions to help clients bring commercially successful therapies to patients in reduced timelines, assessing and improving factors such as client intellectual property (IP) generation, compound stability for in vivo studies, poor solubility and other compound property issues, weak exposure in an animal, and poor off-target selectivity.

Integrated Small Molecule Drug Discovery

Our integrated drug discovery approach seamlessly combines IQVIA scientists from across medicinal chemistry, synthetic chemistry, biology, structural biology, DMPK, in vivo pharmacology, formulation, and beyond, as required. An experienced scientific project leader will provide a focused strategy to deliver to client milestones quickly and efficiently.

Track Record of Candidates

Successful candidate development is directly related to the scientific team’s expertise, investment in platform technologies and application of a translational approach. Check out our candidate delivery and patent track record by therapeutic area.

Will our next discovery be yours?

Integrated Small Molecule Drug Discovery Track Record

100+ preclinical candidates and 4 registered drugs delivered from integrated programs to date.

IQVIA Laboratories candidates are twice as likely to demonstrate PoC, compared to industry averages.

Together, the IQVIA Laboratories Discovery Chemistry Services team are cited as inventors on over 500 patents across a variety of therapeutic areas and have co-invented 4 marketed drugs with another in registration.

Medicinal Chemistry

Experienced medicinal chemists, assisted by machine learning-powered prediction, design novel molecules to address key issues and to improve overall therapeutic potential.

Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD)

Use molecular modelling, docking, and structure-based design approaches coupled to experimentally determined or predicted protein structures together with molecular dynamics and physics-based methodologies to understand and predict target interactions to guide compound optimization.

In silico AI Design and Prediction

Accelerate the design of new molecules through our proprietary AI/ML workflow platform – Design and Predict Hub – using generative AI coupled to our proprietary high-quality predictive models. Use our large data powered predictive models for compound prioritization and design decision making throughout the optimization process. Identify potential liabilities earlier, focusing on the highest value opportunities, reducing unnecessary synthesis and testing cycles.

Synthetic Chemistry

Our highly skilled chemists, complemented by automated plate-based array chemistry provide rapid, high-throughput synthesis of novel structures and data generation. Skilled synthetic chemists employ the latest synthetic techniques to efficiently access new chemical space.

Analytical Chemistry

IQVIA Laboratories’ analytical chemistry services focus on purifying, characterizing and analyzing the properties of drug candidates and other compounds. This includes techniques such as spectroscopy, chromatography, and mass spectrometry, ensuring the quality, purity, and stability of the compounds.

Process & Scale-up Chemistry

Process and scale-up chemistry is crucial for transitioning a laboratory synthesis to a larger-scale production. We provide expertise in developing scalable synthetic processes, optimizing reaction conditions, and ensuring the efficient production of compounds for further development and clinical studies.

Isotopic Labeling Services

IQVIA Laboratories offers isotopic labeling services, which involve replacing specific atoms in a molecule with stable isotopes. This technique is useful in drug discovery for studying metabolic pathways, assessing drug distribution, and conducting pharmacokinetic studies.

Metabolite Synthesis Services

IQVIA Laboratories provides metabolite synthesis services to support the identification and characterization of metabolites formed during drug metabolism. By synthesizing these metabolites, they assist in understanding their pharmacological activities and potential impacts on drug safety and efficacy. Highly experienced chemistry CRO team.

Chemistry Services at IQVIA Laboratories

We provide integrated drug discovery services spanning hit identification, hit-to-lead, and lead optimization, all complemented by medicinal, synthetic, process and scale-up chemistry, computer-aided drug design, in silica AI design and prediction, structural biology, assay development and screening, and comprehensive ADME and PK profiling.

What is the difference between drug design and drug discovery?

Drug discovery refers to the process of identifying and developing new potential drug candidates. It involves various stages, such as target identification, hit identification, hit-to-lead optimization, and lead optimization. Drug discovery aims to find molecules or compounds that can potentially interact with a specific target in the body and provide therapeutic benefits. Drug design is a specific subset of drug discovery that focuses on the rational design of new drug molecules. It involves using computer-aided techniques and computational modeling to design molecules that are predicted to interact effectively with the target of interest. Drug design utilizes principles of molecular structure, binding affinity, and pharmacokinetics to create new molecules or modify existing ones to improve their potency, selectivity, and safety profiles.

Does IQVIA Laboratories provide in-house drug discovery chemistry consultants?

Yes, IQVIA Laboratories offers many business models and we are committed to meeting clients needs. Some clients prefer not to recruit in-house chemists and so IQVIA provides chemists provide on-site services.

Does IQVIA Laboratories provide fee-for-service chemistry services?

Yes, we provide many business models including a fee-for-service model. Each client is different and we are a flexible chemistry CRO. In some clients have their own medicinal chemistry teams, but require additional chemists to quickly scale up. Some clients leverage IQVIA discovery chemistry services a backup to their main series. In this case, we work with our partner’s in-house team to provide the diversity of thought.

How many candidates has IQVIA Laboratories progressed through to clinic?

We are cited as inventors on over 500 patents and have identified 100+ candidates for partner organizations across a variety of therapeutic areas. A high proportion of candidates have progressed to the clinic and our first co-invented drug, Belinostat, received marketing approval in 2015.

Does IQVIA Laboratories offer services other than discovery chemistry services?

Yes, In addition to discovery services such as assay development and screening, pharmacology, ADME and integrated programs, IQVIA provides post-discovery services such as safety assessment, biologics, research models, and microbial services.