Thermo Fisher Scientific has inaugurated its Cryo-Electron Microscopy (cryo-EM) Drug Discovery Center (CDDC) in South San Francisco, a facility aimed at enhancing the capabilities of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in drug development. This center offers hands-on access to cutting-edge cryo-EM technologies, which are pivotal for accelerating structural insights and therapeutic advancements.
According to a Thermo spokesperson, the integration of cryo-EM into drug discovery processes not only broadens the spectrum of therapeutic targets but also significantly expedites the journey of drugs from research to clinical application. Structure-guided drugs reportedly achieve more than double the clinical success rate while reducing preclinical time and costs by half, compared to conventional methods.
Glyn Davies, president of materials and structural analysis at Thermo Fisher, emphasized that the CDDC fosters a collaborative environment where scientists can leverage cryo-EM to gain deeper molecular insights into diseases, thus speeding up therapeutic innovation. The center’s establishment builds on the success of the UK Pharmaceutical Cryo-EM Consortium, reflecting a strategic effort to replicate this collaborative model in North America with founding customer members.
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