The Applications of High Throughput Screening and its Value as a Drug Discovery Tool in the Pharmaceutical Industry and Academia

Abstract

High throughput screening is a method of drug development that has become increasingly popular in the past three decades. Since its popularization in the 1990s, it has been criticized by proponents of typical drug development strategies as costly and ineffective. This paper outlines the technique of high throughput screening, its history, and present uses. Using the design of a screen to identify small molecule activators for a sodium-citrate transporter in order to treat SLC13A5 Deficiency, the process of high throughput screening is outlined. The paper argues that while investing in the process is valuable for large pharmaceutical companies, it is not justifiable for academic researchers.