High Content Analysis is a powerful method when it comes to lead generation and optimisation in drug screening.

The processes of selecting leads from HTS hits and refining them down to a candidate drug, are demanding on cell-based assays because one requires methods which not only allow the processing of many samples, but also produce multiparameter measurements. For instance, if a compound selection decision requires 20 measurements, and the assays used to get these are all single readout, then one requires 20 different screening campaigns. However, if each assay produces 4 readouts then the total number of screens required is reduced to 5.

The ability to examine many signal transduction pathways in parallel, coupled to cell morphology assays, means that a compound series can be extensively screened for on- and off-target activities with the minimum number of assays thus accelerating the processes of Hit-to-lead and lead-to-CD nomination.