Fragment pharmacophore-based in silico screening: a powerful approach for efficient lead discovery

Abstract

Through a process of fragmentation, functionalization, and recombination of market approved molecules for cosmetic usage, we customized an in-house virtual library comprising molecules ideally suited for virtual screening. Computational pharmacophore-based screening of this virtual library followed by a 3 month optimization phase led to the identification of an optimized lead with all its expected properties in hand to be developed as a candidate molecule for skin care in cosmetic applications. The success of this pilot project paves the way for other cosmetic targets of interest.