The COST Chemistry Action D13 was conceived with the aim of creating a European network to promote interdisciplinary research with a focus on molecular drug development. The Action brought together chemists, biochemists, biologists and pharmacologists in order to increase the knowledge of relationships between molecular structure and biological activity. The research carried out within the Action has provided ample opportunities to generate new concepts leading to advanced fundamental knowledge and to new applications. Novel designs and syntheses of biologically active compounds have been delivered, and new properties of such compounds have been elucidated. The results have been disseminated via hundreds of publications in international journals, issued during the course of the Action. Amongst the numerous patents accepted or submitted, topics such as “New analogs of nitrobenzylthioinosine” (EP 1 352 910, accepted in 2003) or “2-Substituted-1-deaza-purine Derivatives with Adenosine Receptor Modulating Activity” (EP 04 104345.6) can be mentioned here as examples. The fundamental research within the D13 Action has provided possibilities for improved drugs, optimized for well-specified applications, which was a benefit for the pharmaceutical industry. As an example, the close cooperation of working group 009 with “Solvay Pharmaceuticals” required monthly meetings to finalize patents, before publications could be issued. Furthermore, the Action has provided European added value, by creating an extensive and impressive network through the connection of 17 working groups with 97 research teams from 23 countries, consisting of approximately 200 scientists. The overall manpower of the Action for its five years of activities was roughly estimated at more than 1100 person-years.
An important added value of the Action is the fact that less established research groups with limited resources have had the possibility to participate and profit from scientific interactions with groups of high international reputation, for instance via STSM’s, which contributed to the broad scientific competence of the working groups in a European context.
