Jorg Scheuermann; Dario Neri
Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 2020, 533, 2, iii-iv
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.10.055

Abstract

DNA-Encoded Chemical Libraries (DELs) are increasingly being used for the identification of small-molecule binders to target proteins of interest.
In anticipation of the growing relevance of DEL technology we had organized in 2006 at ETH Zürich the first International Symposium on DNA-Encoded Chemical Libraries. At that time the community consisted in just a handful of groups working on DELs. However, interest in the technology increased quite dramatically, especially during the last five years. Most pharmaceutical companies have now set-up their own DEL platforms and routinely perform screening campaigns. In addition, many academic groups have realized the potential of DEL technology for hit discovery, as large libraries can be constructed and interrogated at reasonable costs. The first DEL-derived drugs are expected to begin pivotal clinical trials in the next few years, suggesting that DEL technology has now matured. Already now DELs represent the largest collections of small molecules and facilitate the isolation of specific protein ligands.