How to evaluate StarDrop: A step-by-step guide
Learn how to evaluate StarDrop with this step-by-step guide from Optibrium. Discover key features, trial objectives, and how to set up a successful evaluation of this powerful drug discovery platform
No glove fits every hand perfectly—and it’s the same with software tools. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to data visualisation and analysis for drug discovery and development efforts. It’s all about finding the right fit for your specific needs.
Now, when it comes to comparing StarDrop and LiveDesign, a question I often get is: What sets them apart?
While both offer critical functionality for medicinal chemists and discovery teams, they come from very different philosophies. If you’re evaluating which platform fits your team, let’s explore what truly sets them apart.
LiveDesign: Enterprise-scale discovery and project alignment
Let’s start with LiveDesign. It’s a popular platform in pharma and biotech companies and for good reason. It provides a “digital room” where users can access a central data repository, assay data, and work collaboratively. The browser-driven interface is table-based and lets users share their insights and designs in real time. It includes some built-in cheminformatics features, and integrates seamlessly with Schrodinger’s software stack, which is a big win if your team is already using that ecosystem. LiveDesign is ideal when your organisation is running centralised, multi-role discovery programs — and you need consistent data governance and project traceability.
But here’s the thing—while LiveDesign is an incredibly powerful platform for project collaboration, it can be daunting to use the scientific features derived from Schrodinger’s computational chemistry tools. Mastering it takes time, and it’s designed to be more of an all-in commitment.
StarDrop: Intuitive molecule design and optimisation for medicinal chemists
StarDrop, on the other hand, is all about simplicity without sacrificing power. It was engineered from the ground up to be a design cockpit for chemists— it’s a toolbox for making better molecules, faster. Without any training or even reading the manual, you can jump right in and get on with doing science. Its modular design means that it can be tailored to your team’s specific needs with options like generative chemistry, metabolism prediction, and structure-based design, all in a single interface without any IT/DevOp integration hassle.
Even without collaboration capabilities, StarDrop provides the same user experience in both desktop and cloud-based deployments. It offers industry-leading multiparameter optimisation (MPO) that’s visual, adjustable, and chemist-friendly. It also integrates well across different software packages, allowing users to access a variety of docking, machine learning, and database packages. This makes StarDrop the place where chemistry happens before it needs to be recorded or governed.
Finding your perfect fit
Ultimately, it’s about picking the glove that fits your hand just right.
If you’re a medicinal chemist who needs insight, not infrastructure, StarDrop will let you move faster, triage more intelligently, and refine designs before they hit the registry.
If you’re managing a cross-functional discovery program with a need for transparency, auditability, and centralised workflows, LiveDesign may be the better fit.
Of course, many organisations use both — with StarDrop upstream for ideation and optimisation, and LiveDesign downstream for project alignment and decision tracking.
Want to see StarDrop for yourself?
Complete the form below for a free personalised demo and learn how StarDrop can help you to design the right molecules, faster.
Think StarDrop could be right for you?
We would love to show you how StarDrop can help your drug discovery projects. Complete the form and a member of the team will get in touch to arrange a personalised demo for you.
Complete the form to request a personlised demo
About the author
Patrik Nikolić, MSc
Scientific Strategy Partner
Patrik is a medicinal chemist with a strong background in drug discovery, dedicated to streamlining workflows and advancing innovative therapies. At Optibrium, he serves as Scientific Strategy Partner, driving initiatives that empower researchers.
He holds a Master’s in Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry and a Bachelor’s in Biotechnology and Drug Research from the University of Rijeka, graduating summa cum laude with expertise in in silico design, enzyme assays, and biomolecular studies.
Rae Lawrence, PhD
Product Manager
Rae holds a PhD in Theoretical Chemistry from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
After 2 years at the helm of Optibrium’s super-star software development team, she made a lateral move within the organisation to focus more on planning and scoping the products and technologies of the future.
As Product Manager, she leverages over two decades of experience in software development, applications science, and business development—including valuable time spent as a customer. Rae serves as the crucial “universal translator,” adeptly converting customer requirements into technical specifications that enable our developers to deliver effective solutions to complex problems
More about StarDrop
How can I run a successful virtual screen?
Virtual screening is often powerful because it is fast (i.e., cheap) and can give new insights into your project much…
How do I get budget approval for drug discovery software?
Buying software for your company can be a challenge. Every organisation does things differently, and there is often no handbook…
