Enhanced Software Platform for Small Molecule Design and Data Analysis Released 

Optibrium™ have announced the introduction of StarDrop™ 6.6, the latest version of this comprehensive software platform for small molecule design, optimisation and data analysis. The enhanced software will introduce new in silico modelling approaches, ensuring scientists can easily link two- and three-dimensional structural information, identify potential liabilities and design new compounds with the highest chance of success.

The acid dissociation constant (pKa) has an important influence on molecular properties that are crucial to compound synthesis, formulation and optimisation of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion properties. StarDrop’s new pKa model, featured in StarDrop’s ADME QSAR module, integrates quantum mechanics and machine learning to make accurate predictions for a wide range of compounds. Rigorously validated, this model shows excellent on external benchmark datasets specifically created to assess pKa prediction methods.

StarDrop 6.6 also includes an extended suite of SeeSAR™ modules that enhance StarDrop’s capabilities for structure-based design. Developed in collaboration with BioSolveIT GmbH, SeeSAR View enables researchers to visualise ligands in their protein environment to identify the key interactions driving binding affinity. SeeSAR Affinity uses the award-winning HYDE scoring method to analyse a ligand’s binding affinity, related to free energies with visual atomic contributions, and view torsion angle heat maps to assess docked poses. SeeSAR Pose generates docked compound poses for virtual screening and interactive 3D design. The combination of these modules within StarDrop will enable researchers to better understand 2D and 3D structure-activity relationships and design compounds with a higher chance of downstream success.