Lead compound

A lead compound ( engl. lead) is a chemical substance that is being studied in pharmaceutical research as part of a drug design as a starting point for the development of a drug candidate. A lead structure shows in vitro have a desired biological effect, but. In the potency, selectivity, or pharmacokinetic properties is not required for a drug qualities

From any hits ( hit ) from a high- throughput screening, a lead structure differs in that its structure allows synthesis of analog molecules. A lead structure can also be a natural substance which has to be improved by chemical modifications in its pharmacological properties.

By means of suitable chemical, biochemical and in silico methods an attempt is made in medicinal chemistry to optimize the molecular structure and thus the operation of the lead structure to the extent that the drug candidate can be tested in the next phases of drug development.