Bruker has announced several innovative drug discovery, drug development and process control solutions for small molecule NMR characterisation in the pharmaceutical industry.
Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) screening and lead optimisation
In recent years, FBDD has emerged as an alternative to traditional high throughput screening. The fragment libraries are characterised by the small size of the compounds and a smaller number of candidate molecules. This helps researchers to identify those that may have initial weak-medium affinities for binding to the desired protein targets, and then optimising these leads iteratively to obtain medium-strong binding affinities. At each stage, fragment-protein interactions are detected by highly sensitive NMR spectroscopy.
Bruker provides dedicated hardware and software for these FBDD applications. The SampleJet high capacity sample changer with cooled sample storage keeps the delicate biomolecular samples from degrading, while at the same time providing maximum throughput. The QCI-F CryoProbe is a fully versatile, highly sensitivive triple resonance probe with additional fluorine capacity, enabling both, traditional proton- and novel 19F- detected FBDD capabilities. The CMC-q software ensures the integrity and correct concentrations of the fragment libraries. All these latest NMR tools together allow FBDD-by-NMR screens and lead optimisation to be performed in a routine and partially automated manner.
Rapid, automated structure verification solution, Fusion-SV
This new integrated solution for structure verification allows users to easily combine high-resolution accurate-mass (HRAM) mass spectrometry (MS), and complementary Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) data. Fusion-SV provides increased specificity, robustness and throughput for rapid, automated small molecule structure verification.it is designed for the workflow of medicinal and synthetic chemists in pharma, chemical industry or in academia.
The proprietary algorithms that deliver this improved performance have been built into the Fusion-SV streamlined workflow and user-friendly interface. The medicinal chemist is guided straight to meaningful results with minimal interaction and without the requirement for expert knowledge of the underlying techniques. In addition to HRAM-MS and high-fidelity isotope ratio data analysis to determine an unambiguous molecular sum formula, using a Bruker Compact bench-top ESI-QTOF system, Fusion-SV 1.0 automatically analyses 1D 1H and HSQC 400 MHz NMR data. The most advanced solution, Fusion-SV 1.1 also requires a high-sensitivity CryoProbe Prodigy at 400 MHz (or higher) to add the fast acquisition of HMBC and 13C NMR data to the automated structure verification analysis. The Fusion-SV database offers network access to the spectroscopic data, enabling collaborating scientists to share results and projects.
Process optimisation with InsightMR
This new solution for on-the-fly NMR analysis of chemical processes enables the adjustment of process parameters based on real-time data analysis. InsightMR is built on Bruker’s NMR software TopSpin for seamless integration with Bruker systems. InsightMR’s user friendly interface allows both expert and non-expert users to set up, monitor and adjust key parameters. As a result, it is an excellent solution for industrial and academic scientists studying and optimising organic reactions. InsightMR has already proven successful with the first installation at Pfizer in Connecticut, USA, where it has been used to apply NMR to on-line reaction monitoring to solve real chemical questions within the drug development pipeline.
Pharma QC and screening with AssureNMR
A customisable solution for evaluation of diverse materials using NMR. Built on the strengths of NMR for determining compound identity and quantification, and the highly reproducible nature of NMR, Assure-NMR screens materials in full automation from acquisition to report. Integration with the spectrometer through system suitability verification and cross-checks before the sample leaves the acquisition queue assures that highest quality spectra are obtained before the data is analysed and assists in making sure the SOPs are followed.
Whether the required analysis is for metabolomics, dietary supplements, reference standards, APIs, polymers, or raw materials, this customisable solution provides summaries of the sample composition and classification results in automation. Designed for compatibility with both research and GMP environments, Assure-NMR provides rapid detailed sample analysis for research studies, product assessment and quality control.
LabToGo
Access your data and view your spectrometer status anytime and anywhere with the new LabToGo app for the iPad. Powered by the ability of TopSpin 3.5 to interface with cloud storage services of the user’s choice, uploaded data can be examined and visualised remotely. Additionally, the status of spectrometer automation jobs can be synced to the LabToGo app and automatic notifications can be sent for finished tasks.
“Bruker now offers a suite of innovative NMR pharma tools, designed for next-generation drug discovery approaches and more efficient lead optimisation, for increased productivity and for higher quality,” commented Dr Till Kuehn, head of Pharma Applications Development for the Bruker BioSpin MRS division. “NMR is a robust, cost-effective, highly quantitative and information-rich analytical tool, and with these new solutions its utility for small molecule pharma applications has been greatly enhanced.”
