"Screening Tens of Millions of Compounds at Once"... KRICT Launches Public Drug Discovery Platform [Reading Science]

Ultra-Fast Screening with DNA Barcodes Reduces Reliance on Overseas Solutions

50% Cost Reduction Until 2027... Supporting Discovery of New Drugs for Cancer and Infectious Diseases

For the first time, a domestic research team is launching a public drug discovery platform service that enables the simultaneous screening of tens of millions of compounds. This opens the door for Korean researchers to utilize next-generation, high-throughput drug discovery technology—previously available only at high cost from overseas companies—at a more affordable price domestically.

The Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) announced on the 27th that the DEL Technology Research Group has launched the "DEL Core Bank Platform," a public drug discovery service based on the DNA-Encoded Library (DEL) technology.

Differences Between the Conventional HTS Method and the New DEL Method for Effective Compound Screening. Provided by the Research Team

DEL technology is a next-generation drug screening method that attaches unique DNA sequences to each compound like barcodes, allowing tens of millions of compounds to be mixed and screened simultaneously. While the conventional high-throughput screening (HTS) method analyzes compounds one by one, DEL enables simultaneous exploration of large numbers of compounds, greatly reducing both time and cost.

With the conventional HTS method, screening millions of compounds can take several months and requires large quantities of protein samples. For example, screening 1 million compounds using 384-well equipment at a rate of 60 plates per day would take nearly two months.

In contrast, DEL technology involves attaching DNA barcodes to compounds, mixing them together for analysis, and then using next-generation sequencing (NGS) to read the DNA sequences of compounds that bind to disease-related proteins. This process identifies which compounds are effective, allowing even tens of millions of compounds to be screened within one month.

Schematic of the DNA-Encoded Library (DEL). Provided by the research team.

AI Filters Out 'False Candidate Compounds'

While DEL technology excels in large-scale screening, there is a risk of errors where compounds with no actual efficacy appear as candidate compounds due to the influence of DNA or impurities.

To address this, KRICT has applied machine learning-based data analysis technology. Artificial Intelligence (AI) trained on actual experimental data analyzes specific chemical structures and protein binding patterns to select candidate compounds with a high likelihood of efficacy.

The research group shortlists the top 50 candidate compounds based on the analysis and provides a final report. If necessary, they also support the resynthesis of pure compounds without DNA for further validation of their activity.

This platform goes beyond merely providing compounds; it offers a "one-stop service" encompassing library distribution, screening, data analysis, and subsequent validation.

Key researchers of the DEL Technology Research Group (from left: Yoonho Lee, Team Leader; Jeongnyeong Heo, Director; Ki-young Kim, Team Leader; Hyunjin Kim, Team Leader). Courtesy of the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology

KRICT plans to reduce the service fee by 50% until 2027, supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea under the "Core Bank Construction Project Based on Large-Scale DNA-Encoded Library Platform."

Currently, Daewoong Pharmaceutical, National Cancer Center, Ewha Womans University, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), and iLab are among the first to receive support.

Jeongnyung Heo, Head of the DEL Technology Research Group at KRICT, stated, "We will support efficient DEL-based drug discovery services domestically, reducing reliance on overseas solutions."

Shin Seokmin, President of KRICT, added, "The significance of this achievement lies in the fact that we can now provide advanced drug development services to researchers in industry, academia, and research institutes through the DEL Core Bank Platform built with domestic technology."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.