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From Hit-to-Lead: How CRO Partnerships Accelerate Drug Discovery Timelines

In early-stage drug discovery, identifying a promising “hit” compound is only the beginning. The next crucial step is hit-to-lead (H2L) development, where initial screening hits are optimized for potency, selectivity, and drug-like properties. This phase is resource intensive, but with the right Contract Research Organization (CRO), it can be streamlined and accelerated.

At InfinixBio, we provide integrated end to end support to help clients transition from hit to lead with confidence and speed.

What Is Hit-to-Lead Development?

Hit-to-lead is the stage where promising compounds from high-throughput screening (HTS) are refined through medicinal chemistry and iterative testing. The goal is to generate lead candidates with:

• Enhanced binding affinity and selectivity
• Acceptable ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) properties
• Reduced toxicity and off-target effects
• Improved in vitro bioactivity and appropriate mechanism of action
• Drug-like characteristics suitable for preclinical development

This process requires a multidisciplinary approach, including computational modeling, synthetic chemistry, bioassays, and in vitro ADME testing.

How CROs Accelerate H2L Timelines

Working with a CRO like InfinixBio helps drug developers:

• Reduce internal R&D load by outsourcing synthesis, screening, and profiling
• Access broad scientific expertise in pharmacology, toxicology, and ADME
• Enable faster decision-making with integrated data packages
• De-risk programs by identifying liabilities early (e.g., metabolic instability, hERG activity)
• Shorten time to lead nomination and move quickly into IND-enabling studies

The right CRO acts as a true scientific partner, not just a service provider.

InfinixBio’s Hit-to-Lead Services

We offer an agile, cross-functional platform for hit-to-lead programs that includes:

• Hit triage and prioritization based on pharmacological relevance
• Custom medicinal chemistry to refine core structures
• In vitro ADME and DMPK profiling to improve developability
• Early safety screens, including cytotoxicity and genotoxicity
• SAR (structure-activity relationship) analysis and lead optimization

With our collaborative model, we align each iteration with your target product profile and development goals.

Let’s Turn Hits Into High-Value Leads

Your screening campaign yielded hits—now what? With InfinixBio as your CRO partner, you gain a dedicated team of scientists focused on accelerating your hit-to-lead journey and setting the stage for preclinical success.

Contact us today to learn how our platform can support your discovery engine.