Fragment based drug discovery is an emerging structure-based drug design approach which involves screening of low molecular weight compounds known as fragments to identify high quality starting points for drug discovery. Fragments bind protein targets with low affinity but with high quality and can be optimized to develop potent lead molecules.

The Global Fragment Based Drug Discovery Market approach has several advantages over the conventional high throughput screening such as ability to search larger chemical space, lower molecular weight of fragments making them more "drug-like", and possibility of rapidly optimizing fragments into leads. It is gaining widespread adoption in the pharmaceutical industry due to its higher success rates.

The Global Fragment Based Drug Discovery Market is estimated to be valued at USD 1.21 Bn in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 2.60 Bn by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.6% from 2024 to 2031.

Key players operating in the Global Fragment Based Drug Discovery are Astex Pharmaceuticals, Alveus Pharmaceuticals, Charles River Laboratories, Crown Bioscience, Emerald Cloud Lab, Evotec, Sygnature Discovery and Sprint Bioscience.
There is growing demand for fragment based drug discovery in the industry due to its ability to identify high quality starting points for drug development. Fragment screening enables exploring larger chemical space compared to high throughput screening.

Technological advancements have enabled developing more efficient screening techniques such as biophysical screening techniques like NMR, SPR, DSF, ITC etc. and in silico screening platforms. Automation and use of artificial intelligence and machine learning is further augmenting the fragment based drug design approaches.

Market Trends
Fragment libraries with high chemical and structural diversity are being developed to screen maximum chemical space. Companies are collaborating with academic institutions to develop highly optimized fragment libraries.

Combining experimental and computational techniques is gaining popularity to gain insights into ligand-receptor interactions and optimization of fragments into potent leads. Integrating biophysics, structural biology and computational methods enhances success of fragment based campaigns.

Market Opportunities
Outsourcing of fragment screening campaigns to contract research organizations is expected to grow significantly owing to high set up costs and expertise requirements.

Emerging application areas like virus targeting and immune-oncology offer attractive opportunities for fragment based approaches to develop novel anti-viral and immuno-modulatory therapies.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Fragment Based Drug Discovery Market
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the global fragment based drug discovery market. During the initial outbreak, most research activities were halted as governments enforced strict lockdowns and social distancing measures to curb the spread of the virus. This led to delays in clinical trials and new drug development projects.

However, as the pandemic progressed, fragment based drug discovery emerged as a promising approach to expedite the development of treatments and vaccines for COVID-19. Several pharmaceutical companies and research institutes ramped up screening of molecular fragments against SARS-CoV-2 protein targets like spike protein, using biophysical techniques like X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy and surface plasmon resonance. Some key goals were to identify molecules that could potentially block viral attachment and entry into host cells.

In the post-COVID era, fragment based drug discovery is expected to play a bigger role. Researchers now have a better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 virology and are intensifying structure-based drug design efforts. Several candidates identified from fragment screens have advanced to lead optimization stages. Also, the pandemic has highlighted the need for new antiviral therapies and driven more funding towards infectious disease research. This will boost further R&D investments in fragment screening campaigns aimed at other virus families.
North America currently dominates the global fragment based drug discovery market in terms of value. This is owing to presence of many major pharmaceutical players and contract research organizations (CROs) engaged in fragment screening. Significant spending on drug innovation by both private and public sectors also contributes to the large market size.

However, Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest growing regional market during the forecast period. This is because countries like China, India and South Korea are increasingly adopting advanced structural biology methods like fragment based drug discovery. Presence of sophisticated research infrastructure combined with lower operating costs is encouraging more global drug companies to outsource fragment screening work to Asia Pacific. Factors like these will fuel the market's expansion in the region.

Get more insights on: Global Fragment Based Drug Discovery Market

Get this Report in Japanese Language: フラグメントベースの創薬市場

Get this Report in Korean Language: 글로벌 프래그먼트 기반 약물 발견 시장     

About Author:

Ravina Pandya, Content Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravina-pandya-1a3984191)