The perfection of a discovery

Abstract

Let us suppose that a substance has been discovered with a rare and much desired biological property. It may have been found by application of the principles of selectivity, or from a chance laboratory observation, or by a tedious mechanical screening programme. Usually it is neither potent nor selective enough to be thought of as a candidate drug, heading towards clinical trial, nevertheless it can be a very promising lead.* What steps can be taken to improve it, by finding the most selective example among its many chemical relatives? Moreover, how can this goal be reached by making the fewest possible examples?