Evolving Outsourcing Landscape in Pharma R&D: Different Collaborative Models and Factors To Consider When Choosing a Contract Research Organization.

Outsourcing has become an integral part of how research and early development (R&D) is executed in biotech companies and large pharmaceutical organizations. Drug discovery organizations can choose from several operational models when partnering with a service provider, ranging from short-term, fee-for-service (FFS)-based arrangements to more strategic full-time-equivalent (FTE)-based collaborations and even risk-sharing relationships. Clients should consider a number of criteria when deciding which contract research organization (CRO) is best positioned to help meet their goals.

Underexplored Opportunities for Natural Products in Drug Discovery.

The importance of natural products in the treatment of human disease is well documented. While natural products continue to have a profound impact on human health, chemists have succeeded in generating semisynthetic analogues that sometimes overshadow the original natural product in terms of clinical significance. Synthetic efforts based on natural products have primarily focused on improving their drug-like features while targeting utility in the same biological space.

Piperidine-containing beta-arylpropionic acids as potent antagonists of alphavbeta3/alphavbeta5 integrins.

The synthesis and SAR of a new class of piperidine-based alphavbeta3/alphavbeta5 integrin antagonists is described. Replacement of an amide bond in a prototype isonipecotamide by a C-C isostere, and adjustment of the spacer length between the carboxylic acid and basic moieties, led to low nanomolar antagonists of alphavbeta3 and/or alphavbeta5 integrins with excellent selectivity versus alpha(IIb)beta3.