Fostering Research Synergies between Chemists in Swiss Academia and at Novartis.

Arndt Meyer,Michael Parmentier,Fabrice Gallou,Lucie E Lovelle,Thierry Schlama,Radka Snajdrova,Cara E Brocklehurst,Daniel Baeschlin,Yves Auberson,Myriam Duckely

doi:10.2533/chimia.2021.936

Abstract

We present a short overview of the way Novartis chemists interact and collaborate with the academic chemistry community in Switzerland. This article exemplifies a number of collaborations, and illustrates opportunities to foster research synergies between academic and industrial researchers. It also describes established programs available to academic groups, providing them access to Novartis resources and expertise.

Highlights

Interactions between Novartis chemists and Swiss academic partners take place at all stages of drug discovery and development
We explored a series of N-methyl-daspartate (NMDA) receptor ligands specific for the GluN2A subunit, as potential imaging agents
Professor Jean-Louis Reymond’s group (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Buller (Waedenswil) and Jean-Louis Reymond (Bern)) has published several groundbreaking articles on machine learning applications in chemistry, which inspired Novartis research and development (R&D) teams to propose a collaboration on this topic

Summary

Introduction

Interactions between Novartis chemists and Swiss academic partners take place at all stages of drug discovery and development. These include exploratory scientific partnerships with Novartis’ chemistry research platform (GDC, Global Discovery Chemistry), technology projects with its chemical development unit (CHAD, Chemical and Analytical Development), and many community support activities. In parallel to the pursuit of scientific objectives, academic collaborators benefit from these interactions by gaining access to the Novartis infrastructure, chemical tools and expertise. Such interactions may provide students with a first exposure to industrial research. While an exhaustive list of actual partnerships is beyond the scope of this article, we highlight some categories below

Collaboration Examples

Predicting the Non-specific Binding of Clinical Imaging Agents

Novel Oxidative Enzymes for Late-stage Functionalization

Conclusions