Small molecule therapeutics remain a cornerstone of modern medicine, offering unmatched versatility and proven clinical impact. Despite the rapid growth of biologics and other modalities, small molecules continue to dominate, with more than half of all newly approved drugs being small molecules, underscoring their enduring relevance and adaptability in a rapidly evolving therapeutic landscape.
Their unique advantages over other modalities, such as efficient membrane penetration, the ability to modulate intracellular pathways, easier optimization for oral delivery, reliable large-scale manufacturability, and high shelf-life stability, make them indispensable across a wide range of therapeutic areas. Recent advancements in AI-driven drug discovery further accelerate their impact, leveraging vast historical data sets for faster compound synthesis, hit identification, and lead optimization.
Why Evotec?
Driving Next-Generation Small Molecule Innovation
Evotec approaches every project with a modality-agnostic mindset, while bringing decades of expertise in small molecule drug discovery. Our experience spans hundreds of biological targets across all target classes and therapeutic areas and includes less conventional approaches in the small molecule space, such as covalent drugs, small molecules targeting RNA, and targeted protein degradation/modification.
By combining deep medicinal chemistry expertise with cutting-edge machine learning tools across our fully integrated R&D continuum, Evotec ensures rapid and efficient progression from concept to clinic. From hit-to-lead through IND-enabling studies and GMP manufacturing, our teams deliver the innovation, scalability, and reliability needed to transform small molecule ideas into tomorrow’s therapies.
