Recent Advances in the Development of Hybrid Drugs

Dear Colleagues,

Hybrid drug development is a research field that is currently expanding. For a wide community of researchers around the world, the combination of two or more pharmacophores and/or drug-directing moieties in the same molecule is an attractive strategy for the design of new compounds with optimized pharmacodynamic profiles, and has already delivered promising results in the contexts of multidrug-resistant cancers, emerging antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, and others.

Molecular hybridization of several active fragments into the same molecular framework offers a unique opportunity to achieve additive and synergistic effects that would not otherwise be possible, hence opening new doors for enhanced drug potency, selectivity and, in some cases, drug susceptibility. As hybridized fragments share the same pharmacokinetic profile, this molecular design approach assures that the required concentrations of each pharmacophore are available near the target(s) at the exact same time—something that is often crucial for optimal results. 

Because of its undeniable potential, more and more researchers are integrating molecular hybridization into their strategic drug development approaches. Hence, this Special Issue of Pharmaceutics welcomes original research articles, communications and review articles dedicated to major advancements, breakthroughs and challenges in the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of organic, inorganic and organometallic hybrid drugs. Medicinal chemists working across all therapeutic areas are encouraged to contribute with research or literature overviews on this topic.

Dr. Tânia S. Morais
Dr. Ana M. de Matos
Guest Editors

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