Molecule design is a team sport, and secure data sharing and collaboration practices are essential for success. Csaba Peltz, Director of Chemistry at Chemaxon, stated that drug discovery is a highly collaborative process that brings together multiple internal and external players, including medicinal chemists, assay scientists, and CROs. Effective teamwork will foster acceleration and quality outcomes, but this is easier said than done.
When it comes to data sharing, exchanging data across organisations is complicated due to varying data types, a lack of standardisation, and differing business rules for normalisation and access. Therefore, there are many technical and governance roadblocks in guaranteeing secure and efficient data transfer. With outsourcing becoming increasingly common, particularly for synthesis and testing phases involving CROs, it is more crucial than ever to overcome this.
Alongside this, protecting sensitive data is a major concern. Many companies require robust cybersecurity investments and granular access controls to ensure that only authorised users and partners can view sensitive product information.
So, what is the solution? Peltz highlighted the importance of well-designed access management systems that are tailored to customer needs so that end users have a straightforward experience and the opportunity to interact with a clean interface.
Peltz gave the audience a snapshot of Chemaxon’s Design Hub’s features. The product has easy project tracking tools; for instance, a light window feature highlights the internal members of specific projects who can see and access all parts of the project. Meanwhile, the dark window highlights the eternal collaborators who have limited visibility. It can also create 3D visualisations and docking poses. Furthermore, Peltz stressed that their technologies implement FAIR data principles but there is room for improvement.
He also suggested that Federated learning projects like the European IMI MELLODY project are blueprints for effective data sharing that connect dozens of different participants without compromising proprietary information. In conclusion, there is a continuing need to enhance data standards and IT practices to eliminate obstacles to collaboration and ensure the secure and efficient sharing of sensitive information.
