SpotRM
The current web-based application, launched in September 2020, is based on the the same data that was used in the desktop version SpotRM+, launched at the end of 2015. Adoption and feedback by a number of industrial users made it obvious that a web-based app could attract a much wider use. This new web version was made possible in collaboration with Kevin Parkes, until 2019 Head of computational chemistry at Medivir. Kevin’s expertise and skills made rapid progress possible and we think that we have created a very useful tool for drug designers to stay away from many more or less obvious structural alerts. The development was supported by Alexander Minidis, process/medicinal chemist and data-scientist.
Awametox
AWAMETOX AB was founded in 2014 by former AstraZeneca medicinal chemist Alf Claesson. Alf has a broad preclinical experience from more than 27 years in the pharmaceutical industry (AstraZeneca 1984-2010 working as a section head/ project leader/ principal scientist) and academia (Uppsala University, Associate Professor).
During the last years at AstraZeneca he worked as Principal Scientist specializing in chemical toxicology, an interest that he has taken further into various entrepreneurial endeavors such as:
- The web version of SpotRM+ was launched as SpotRM in Sept. 2020. The abandoned SpotRM+ was designed by Alf and developed in collaboration with Genetta Soft, Uppsala (Ola Spjuth in particular).
- In 2012 he launched the freely accessible web application SpotRM (a simple predecessor, now terminated, which has lent the name to the current SpotRM).
- In 2011 he set up the site stoprm.org where important literature on RM issues was collected; the review section of this is now found at the current site.
Alf has published 80+ scientific papers, book chapters and a popular text book on medicinal chemistry (in Swedish). He is co-inventor of many patent applications and holds several patents.
Relevant publications
Systematic Approach to Organizing Structural Alerts for Reactive Metabolite Formation from Potential Drugs. A Claesson & A Minidis. Chem Res Toxicol. 2018, 31, 389-411.
On Mechanisms of Reactive Metabolite Formation from Drugs. A Claesson & O Spjuth. Mini-Rev Med Chem 2013, 13, 720-729.
On the mechanism of paracetamol’s analgesic activity and a note on related NSAID pharmacology. A Claesson on Slideshare 2013 (link).
Reactive Metabolites – Hints How to Avoid a Drug Safety Hazard. Presentation by A Claesson on Slideshare 2012 (link).
Risk assessment and mitigation strategies for reactive metabolites in drug discovery and development. RA Thompson, A Claesson et al. Chemico-Biol. Interact. 2011, 192, 65-71.