In Silico Discovery and Data Analysis

Expertise in driving discoveries through computational modelling

Introduction

Computational chemistry, CADD (Computer-Aided Drug Design), cheminformatics and data analysis applications are a key component of any science-led drug discovery project. These approaches have been demonstrated to reduce R&D costs and time and add valuable scientific insights. They are applied at all stages of the drug discovery process to focus effort, impact projects and rapidly move compounds towards the clinic. Outsourcing computational chemistry can play an important role in maximising your R&D outcome.

BioAscent’s computational drug designers work with you to support your drug discovery projects, suggesting and applying the right computational methodologies to help solve the challenges inevitably encountered during the discovery process.

“BioAscent computational chemists worked on a structure-based drug design project where there was a Cryo-EM structure of the target. Working on Cryo-EM models is challenging and BioAscent generated valid docking hypothesis and design concepts which resulted in a series of compounds which showed good activity and enabled us to establish new IP position.  The BioAscent team is collaborative and professional.  Their extensive experience in structure-based drug design allowed them to make a significant impact on the progress of the project. We would happily recommend the BioAscent In Silico Discovery team for computational projects.”

Director of Medicinal Chemistry, US Biotech

Capabilities

Our In Silico Discovery and Data Analysis scientists have years of knowledge and success applying multiple ligand-based and structure-based computational methodologies at all stages of the drug discovery workflow. Our capabilities include:

In silico target assessment

Structure and ligand-based ligandability evaluation

Protein modelling

Sequence alignment, refining protein models derived from electron density data, binding site identification, homology modelling, loop modelling, protein-protein docking, in silico mutagenesis analysis/protein stability

Ligand modelling

Standardisation, ligands alignment and conformational search, strain energy evaluation, MM-based torsion scan

Library design

Fragments and small-molecules library curation and design

In silico hit finding

Virtual fragments and small-molecules screening, HTS triage, design of hit expansion sets

Protein-ligand interaction

Rigid/induced-fit docking, covalent docking, pharmacophore modelling and search, interaction fingerprints

Fragment-based drug design

Fragment analogues search, combinatorial fragment expansion, fragment growing and linking

Lead optimisation

3D QSAR/QSPR modelling, scaffold hopping, bioisostere search, ADMETox and physicochemical properties prediction, solvent analysis, multi-parameter optimisation

Cheminformatics

Clustering, diversity analysis, similarity and substructure search, filtering databases based on substructure matching and property values, self-organising map

Machine learning and data analysis

Supervised and unsupervised learning, data visualisation/storytelling

Molecular Dynamics
Quantum Mechanics

Single point energy calculation, geometry optimisation, torsian scan, interaction energy calculation

Drug discovery is a cross-functional process. Our computational chemists work in concert with you and our medicinal chemistry and biosciences groups, navigating and avoiding the common pitfalls associated with the discovery process, and taking your project from concept to candidate in the most timely and efficient way.

Innovative approaches to enhance drug discovery capabilities

The BioAscent in silico discovery team developed a QSAR model based on non-standard activity data that required adaptability and creativity from the BioAscent team. The QSAR model was then used to generate novel compounds and to enumerate focused arrays. Throughout the project, the BioAscent in silico team has been responsive and flexible, which helped us reach a successful conclusion.

CTO, Tay Therapeutics

Hardware & Software

BioAscent’s computing capabilities include a rack mount Xeon-based Dell server to support error checking and memory correction, leading to improved stability and less data corruption. This configuration can be easily upgraded and extended to accommodate increased computing needs for specific client projects. In addition to multi-core Xeon CPUs, GPU acceleration is guaranteed by an array of the latest NVidia Ampere architecture graphics cards.

Our server is accessible via individual workstations, these workstations also being available for data analysis and less computationally intensive tasks.

Our hardware together with a state-of-the-art molecular modelling platform allows us, for example, to run ultra-large virtual screenings in the order of billions of compounds in a ligand-based fashion and millions of compounds in a structure-based fashion.

We use innovative commercial and open-source modelling programs, pipelining tools and databases. Depending on the project’s needs, they can be combined and extended to maximise their effectiveness.

Our Experts

Director of Chemistry

Dr Angus Morrison

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Associate Director of In Silico Discovery

Dr Angelo Pugliese

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“We have been working with the In Silico Discovery team at BioAscent for over a year.

The first target we collaborated on was very challenging because the activity data were unusual. BioAscent proposed a machine learning approach to model that non-linear activity and predict the activity of a set of new compounds.

We then began collaborating on a second target. BioAscent performed MD simulations, docking studies, focused-library design, structure-based and ligand-based virtual screening. Homology modelling was also carried out for series of proteins to understand the potential selectivity issues among isoforms.

Overall, the BioAscent computational chemistry team has been innovative, reliable, and collaborative. Their work has resulted in meaningful scientific insights and idea generation and made a significant impact on the direction and progress of several of our small molecule drug discovery projects. ”

Director Medicinal Chemistry, Global Pharmaceutical Company

Publications

Posters & case studies

Integrated Drug Discovery


Science-led drug discovery

Get in Touch

Let's talk about how we can maximise your drug discovery success.

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