Small Molecule

With a range of orthogonal approaches, we can deliver high-quality, validated hit compounds for your drug discovery project. Using state-of-the art platforms and resources, our scientists will work with you to determine the best strategy for successful progression for your hit finding and hit-to-lead studies.

• High-throughput screening
• Compound screening libraries
• Fragment screening
• Virtual screening
• Medicinal chemistry knowledge-based design

Considering the challenges of identifying and optimizing novel compounds and the need to secure IP, you need a partner with expertise across a multitude of chemistry fields and a track record of innovation. Cited as inventors of more than 290 patents filed by our sponsors, our skilled chemists possess a wealth of experience in formulation development and multidisciplinary chemistry.

• Medicinal chemistry
• Computer-aided drug design
• Synthetic chemistry
• Analytical chemistry
• Process and scale-up chemistry
• Compound screening libraries

Preformulation studies in drug discovery provide data to predict the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of the compound. Charles River scientists use modeling and simulation equipment to draw an efficient formulation strategy for preclinical studies. Often these small-scale formulations are provided in liquid form, and we have expertise in multiple routes of administration including:

• Oral
• Intravenous
• Respiratory

Once a salt screen or polymorphism project has been completed, customers often want to have access to the additional pharmaceutical development knowledge and techniques available within Charles River to help support their API as it progresses.

The quality, accuracy, and sensitivity of each biomarker is critical in making go/no-go decisions at all stages of drug discovery and development. You can trust our experts in biomarker identification and assay validation to provide you with the information you need to move forward with your research.

• Biomarker screening
• Biomarker search database

It is important to understand the key physicochemical properties and structural motifs that drive the efficacy and safety profile of a compound candidate. In vitro ADME is used to identify the attributes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. ADME assays are critical in gaining insight into metabolism and potential drug interactions. 

Charles River offers drug interaction screening services to identify a compound’s ADME properties including expert study designs, in vitro ADME assays and data interpretation systems.

Choosing the right CRO can help you accelerate the discovery of new therapeutic compounds and significantly reduce time to market. As your partner in drug development, we apply our knowledge gained from years of IND research, a unique range of services, and innovative technologies to help you successfully initiate and complete your IND-enabling program.

• IND-enabling studies
• Custom IND Gantt chart builder

One CRO partner and one point of contact simplifies project management efforts, keeps costs down, and results in the best scientific outcomes. With the new One Step service by Charles River, clients have an accessible and knowledgeable advocate, from bench to bedside.

The One Step team coordinates activities from early discovery all the way through to GMP and drug product development. We will ensure a clear CMC strategy in place during early lead optimization, including development chemistry carried out at the right time to support the most rapid progress into clinical enabling studies and seamless, comprehensive methods transfer into a trusted CDMO. Approach includes these phases of drug discovery and development:

• Target and Drug Discovery
• Candidate Identification
• Pre-FIH or IND Development
• Support for Clinical Phases

To increase certainty of small molecule development, Charles River has partnered with Valo Health to transform drug discovery with Logica, a customized turnkey drug discovery solution from target to preclinical development.