At each stage in the drug discovery process, 3D database searching can
play a significant role - from finding a lead compound to searching f
or alternative backup structures. Medicinal chemists have many tools i
n their armoury for assisting in the early stages of a new project, an
d 3D database searching is now an essential part of the drug discovery
process; To meet the challenges of the next millennium in the pharmac
eutical industry, the time taken to find leads to begin research into
new therapeutic areas must be as short as possible. 3D database search
ing offers one way of getting that hit.