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Multivalency "is just reaching the transition between university research and commercialization Indeed, a number of multivalent drugs are currently being tested. However, he notes that there is an important distinction to be made between oligomeric and polymeric multivalent agents.
Divalent and trivalent compounds tend to have low molecular weights and to be orally active, just like conventional drugs, he says. But polymeric multivalent species tend to be polydisperse (structurally heterogeneous) mixtures that are difficult to characterize. In addition, they generally have unfamiliar mechanisms of action and often require injection or other non-oral forms of administration. Therefore, he believes they will probably be slower to reach clinical practice. "It is not obvious that the Food & Drug Administration will ever be relaxed about letting high-molecular-weight, polydisperse polymers be used as systemic drugs. There are all sorts of potential issues here."
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