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The IMS chemical library, a tool combining the real and virtual worlds to support pharmaceutical innovation

What if you had access to all the resources you need to make your research project a real success? Now you can, with the IMS library, which offers 578 different compounds in stock and ready to be targeted!

What exactly is the IMS library?

A true collection of chemical compounds designed for use in pharmaceutical research, the IMS chemical library is an indispensable tool in the early stages of drug discovery.

It consists of two sub-libraries:

  • EIMS: this library contains 578 different compounds that are already in stock and ready to be screened. These compounds have been selected for their chemical diversity and immediate availability for testing. In addition, the physical chemical library will soon be screened on the GalanineR2 receptor (from the G protein-coupled receptor family) in collaboration with Frédéric Simonin in order to identify new patentable ligands for this receptor and develop potential drug candidates in the fields of pain and metabolic diseases. This project will be carried out as part of the projects funded by the IMS!
  •  VIMS: This is a virtual library containing new compounds designed by chemists and their potential to extend pharmacophore diversity. This virtual library offers a wider range of binding motifs and has improved drug-like characteristics thanks to the addition of various functional groups to the scaffolds present in the Eims library. It also includes a filtering process to eliminate reactive or unusual structures.

These two libraries were created to meet the specific needs of university research projects in terms of cost and resource efficiency. They leverage the expertise of organic chemists and chemoinformatics tools to maximize the chances of success in discovering new drugs.

Discussions with researchers

In order to understand this promising new project better, we had the opportunity to talk to three chemistry teams led by Dominique BONNET, Esther KELLENBERGER, Frédéric BIHEL, and Mihaela GULEA.

How did this idea come about and what were the main goals?

The idea for the IMS library arose from a discussion among colleagues who wanted to work together synergistically using a common, mastered methodology.

The main objectives were to leverage the expertise of computational and synthetic chemistry teams to benefit their medicinal chemistry projects and, more broadly, the discovery and optimization of bioactive molecules.

Which sectors or areas of research could benefit most from this library?

The sectors or areas of research that could benefit most from the IMS library are:

  • Human or animal health: it can help in the discovery of new molecules with therapeutic potential, be used for diagnosis, or serve in fundamental and applied research.

  • Fundamental research: it enables the discovery of new chemical tools for studying living organisms, thus providing valuable resources for a better understanding of biological mechanisms.

How do you view the evolution of the library to meet the future needs of research in chemistry and pharmacology?

To meet the future needs of chemistry and pharmacology research, we imagine the IMS library evolving in the following ways:

  •  Screening follow-up: identifying polyvalent molecules, i.e., those that interact with several biological targets, as well as molecules that show no activity in tests.
  • Enhancement of the chemical library: adding new original molecules synthesized in one of the three participating laboratories, thereby increasing the diversity and potential of the library.
  • Predicting synthetic accessibility: working on predicting the synthetic feasibility of molecules generated by the computational approach, ensuring that new virtual molecules can actually be manufactured in the laboratory.

How can external researchers access the IMS library? Are there any specific conditions or criteria?

No, the library is also open for collaborative projects!

What types of collaborations or partnerships do you hope to develop thanks to this project?

The IMS library was initially designed to serve the projects of its creators and those of its partners.