ACS @150: Role of Medicinal Chemistry in Antibacterial Drug Discovery

Medicinal chemistry has evolved over the years, to meet challenges in the field of therapeutic development. Since the dawn of the antibiotic era, this field has stepped up and contributed extensively to antibacterial drug development, right from developing better and more potent analogues, to improving pharmacokinetics and stability, from overcoming resistance, to facilitating better delivery through formulations. The contributions of medicinal chemistry, across these and many other areas, have shaped medicine, and facilitated its transition from an empirical discipline to a rigorous science, with significant progress being made in the last five decades. Commemorating the 150 years of the American Chemical Society, this Viewpoint highlights the central role of medicinal chemistry in shaping antibacterial drug discovery over the decades, and explores the emerging paradigms which are bound to influence this field.