Cited by 869Computational Drug Discovery MethodsDrug Solubulity and Delivery SystemsChemical Synthesis and Analysis

Oral Druggable Space beyond the Rule of 5: Insights from Drugs and Clinical Candidates

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Doak, Bradley Croy, Over, Bjӧrn, Giordanetto, Fabrizio, Kihlberg, Jan·2014·Chemistry & Biology

Abstract

The rule of 5 (Ro5) is a set of in silico guidelines applied to drug discovery to prioritize compounds with an increased likelihood of high oral absorption. It has been influential in reducing attrition due to poor pharmacokinetics over the last 15 years. However, strict reliance on the Ro5 may have resulted in lost opportunities, particularly for difficult targets. To identify opportunities for oral drug discovery beyond the Ro5 (bRo5), we have comprehensively analyzed drugs and clinical candidates with molecular weight (MW) > 500 Da. We conclude that oral drugs are found far bRo5 and properties such as intramolecular hydrogen bonding, macrocyclization, dosage, and formulations can be used to improve bRo5 bioavailability. Natural products and structure-based design, often from peptidic leads, are key sources for oral bRo5 drugs. These insights should help guide the design of oral drugs in bRo5 space, which is of particular interest for difficult targets.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.chembiol.2014.08.013

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  • In drug development, 500 Da is often quoted as the maximum molecular weight parameter, but molecules with higher molecular weights can be absorbed, and the limits of oral bioavailability appear to extend to about MW ≤ 1000 Da.

    “In the development of new drugs, 500 Da is often quoted as the maximum molecular weight parameter. However, it has been observed that molecules with higher molecular weights are also capable of being absorbed, and the limits of oral bioavailability appear to extend to about MW ≤ 1000 Da [70,71,72].”
  • PROTAC physicochemical property space generally falls beyond the rule of 5 owing to the bifunctional nature of the molecules.

    “In general, PROTAC physicochemical property space falls beyond the ‘rule of 5’ (refs59,60) owing to the bifunctional nature of the molecules.”

    From PROTAC targeted protein degraders: the past is prologue (2022) · cites this paper as [60]

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  1. Bilello, J.P., Dousson, C.B., Colla, M.L., Chapron, C., Bhadresa, S., Camire, M., Serra, I., Gillum, J.M., Lallos, L.B., McCarville, J.F., et al. (2011). Antiviral and Preclinical Profiles of HCV NS5A Inhibitors IDX380 and IDX719. Proceed- ings of the 18th International Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus and Related Viruses, Seattle; September 8-12, 2011.
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  3. Smith, D.A. (2010). Metabolism, Pharmacokinetics and Toxicity of Functional Groups: Impact of the Building Blocks of Medicinal Chemistry in ADMET. (Cambridge, UK: RSC Pub.).

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Authors
Doak, B. C., Over, B., Giordanetto, F., & Kihlberg, J.
Affiliations
Uppsala University (SE)
Corresponding author
Kihlberg, Jan
Venue
Chemistry & Biology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-09
Volume
21
Issue
9
Pages
1115-1142
ISSN
1074-5521 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2106605095
Cited by
835
References
295
Citations by year
2026: 101 · 2025: 82 · 2024: 103 · 2023: 111 · 2022: 103 · 2021: 88 · 2020: 65 · 2019: 50 · 2018: 51 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 37 · 2015: 14 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
FWCI
2.15
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Chemistry & Biology (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • AstraZeneca
  • Uppsala Universitet
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computational Theory and Mathematics › Computational Drug Discovery Methods
  • Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmaceutical Science › Drug Solubulity and Delivery Systems
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Chemical Synthesis and Analysis
Keywords
Rule of 5, oral bioavailability, drug discovery, molecular weight, intramolecular hydrogen bonding, macrocyclization, oral dosage forms, natural products, structure-based drug design, pharmacokinetics, clinical candidates
MeSH terms
Administration, Oral, Biological Products, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Humans, Molecular Weight, Protease Inhibitors, Databases, Factual, Drug Delivery Systems, Macrocyclic Compounds, Drug Discovery

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