The 'quality' of small-molecule drug candidates — encompassing aspects including their potency, selectivity and pharmacokinetic characteristics — is a key factor influencing the chances of success in clinical trials. Cumming and colleagues discuss the application of computational methods, particularly quantitative structure–activity relationships, in guiding the selection of higher-quality drug candidates, as well as cultural factors that may have affected their impact.
- John G. Cumming
- Andrew M. Davis
- Hongming Chen
