Abstract

Evolutionary Perspectives on Automated Screening: Three Decades of Innovative Engineering

Hakim Djaballah, CEO, Institute Pasteur - Korea

Chemical screening started as a simple method to test as many samples as possible, as quickly as possible, and in simple biological models; to find those with desired biological (pharmacological) activity to be further developed into drugs. Back then, up to 25 samples would be tested over a course of a week. However, its industrialization phase in the mid to late 90s saw a dramatic increase in throughput through the innovative use of robotics, automated microscopes, and novel sensitive homogeneous assay technologies amenable to miniaturization in low volumes; resulting in the ability to screen up to million compounds in one day against target-based biochemical assays. This enhanced capability, three decades later, should have caused huge productivity improvements leading to an increase in novel drugs to treat disease. I will review the evolution of chemical screening and discuss its ultimate impact on discovery.