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Review
. 2022 Jun;27(6):1560-1574.
doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.02.015. Epub 2022 Feb 21.

Small molecules and their impact in drug discovery: A perspective on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the Bayer Chemical Research Laboratory

Hartmut Beck  1 , Michael Härter  2 , Bastian Haß  3 , Carsten Schmeck  2 , Lars Baerfacker  2
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Small molecules and their impact in drug discovery: A perspective on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the Bayer Chemical Research Laboratory

Hartmut Beck et al. Drug Discov Today. 2022 Jun.
Free article

Abstract

The year 2021 marks the 125th anniversary of the Bayer Chemical Research Laboratory in Wuppertal, Germany. A significant number of prominent small-molecule drugs, from Aspirin to Xarelto, have emerged from this research site. In this review, we shed light on historic cornerstones of small-molecule drug research, discussing current and future trends in drug discovery as well as providing a personal outlook on the future of drug research with a focus on small molecules.

Keywords: Artificial intelligence; Drug discovery; Medicinal chemistry; New modalities; Small molecule therapeutics; Societal impact.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: All authors are employees of Bayer AG.

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