Natural products (NPs) have long been a cornerstone of medicine, with nearly 45% of all approved drugs being natural products or NP-inspired. Despite a decline in NP approvals over the past decade, they are experiencing a resurgence. Why? Advances in technology, growing unmet medical needs, and the unique advantages of natural products are driving renewed interest.

Natural products offer:

• Unmatched chemical diversity: They provide structures and scaffolds that synthetic libraries often cannot replicate.
• Success on complex targets: NPs can address targets where small molecules fail and antibodies cannot reach.
• Potential in antimicrobial resistance (AMR): With rising AMR, NPs are a promising solution.
• Lower toxicity and better clinical success rates: Studies show NP-derived drugs often have fewer adverse effects and higher trial success.

Modern tools like AI/ML-powered molecule identification, omics integration, and high-throughput screening (HTS) have transformed NP research, making it faster and more scalable.

Selecting a Contract Research Organization (CRO) for NP-based projects is critical. Here are key considerations:

1. Access to Diverse Compound Libraries 
   A strong CRO should offer extensive NP libraries, including isolated natural products, derivatives, and NP-inspired compounds. Evotec, for example, provides access to ~4,500 natural compounds, ~24,000 NP derivatives, ~2,100 macrocycles and ~25,000 NPs in extract form, plus unique microbial sources.
2. Advanced Screening Technologies
   Look for capabilities beyond standard HTS such as specialist microfluidics for NP producers.
3. Integrated Expertise
   NP research is complex. A CRO should combine medicinal chemistry, AI/ML-driven PanOmics, and patient omics databases to guide hit identification and prioritization.
4. End-to-End Support
   From early discovery to clinical development, seamless integration ensures efficiency and reduces risk.

A diverse and expanding compound collection is the lifeblood of NP research. Why?

• Maximizes chemical and biological diversity
• Enables discovery of novel scaffolds and metabolites
• Generates unique intellectual property (IP)

Evotec’s approach includes sourcing from rare biological species, applying the OSMAC (One Strain Many Compounds) strategy, and leveraging untapped bioresources. This commitment ensures first-in-class opportunities and accelerates NP-based drug discovery.

Natural products are not just making a comeback - they’re shaping the future of drug discovery. With the right CRO partner, equipped with cutting-edge technologies and diverse compound collections, researchers can unlock the full potential of NPs to tackle complex diseases and unmet medical needs.

Want to progress your NP project?