QSAR - FW: Bartfai quote

Just FYI -- this email bounced, but I found a few more pertinent email
addresses, including Bartfai's, and have resent the message below. My guess
is that their PR department added some 'facts' of their own, as it is hard
to believe that anyone as experienced as Bartfai would say something as
absurd as "there are only eight major, chemical "scaffolds" upon which all
the 433 molecules are based".

Will let you all know if I hear anything further. (Special thanks to Dr.
Quintana for the Word file)

Dick

-----Original Message-----
From: Dick Cramer [mailto:cramer*tripos.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2002 12:46 PM
To: anderson^-^scripps.edu
Cc: Qsar_Society]![Accelrys. Com
Subject: Bartfai quote

The following direct quote, apparently originating from Scripps Institute,
is being greeted with considerable (and I believe completely justified)
skepticism in a Web discussion today:

'While there are around 10,300 FDA-approved drugs in the United States
today, most of these are made up of some combination of only 433 distinct
molecules. Acetaminophen, for instance, is an ingredient in hundreds of
separate drugs. Half of the 433 were approved before 1938, and at least 50
are "me too" drugs, a slightly modified form of compound already on the
market. Finally, there are only eight major, chemical "scaffolds" upon which
all the 433 molecules are based.'

I would suggest that the Scripps Institute and/or Professor Bartfai
investigate, and if possible document, these startling assertions.

Richard D. Cramer
Chief Scientific Officer
Tripos, Inc.
Received on 2002-11-14 - 14:49 GMT