Designing Chimeric Molecules for Drug Discovery by Leveraging Chemical Biology

J Med Chem. 2020 Mar 12;63(5):1908-1928. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01456. Epub 2020 Feb 19.

Abstract

After the first seed concept introduced in the 18th century, different disciplines have attributed different names to dual-functional molecules depending on their application, including bioconjugates, bifunctional compounds, multitargeting molecules, chimeras, hybrids, engineered compounds. However, these engineered constructs share a general structure: a first component that targets a specific cell and a second component that exerts the pharmacological activity. A stable or cleavable linker connects the two modules of a chimera. Herein, we discuss the recent advances in the rapidly expanding field of chimeric molecules leveraging chemical biology concepts. This Perspective is focused on bifunctional compounds in which one component is a lead compound or a drug. In detail, we discuss chemical features of chimeric molecules and their use for targeted delivery and for target engagement studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Products / administration & dosage
  • Biological Products / chemistry*
  • Biological Products / metabolism*
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods
  • Drug Delivery Systems / trends*
  • Drug Discovery / methods
  • Drug Discovery / trends*
  • Humans
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations / administration & dosage
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations / chemistry
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Secondary

Substances

  • Biological Products
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations