#$%^&*AU2014200509A120140220.pdf#####METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR DETECTING RECEPTOR LIGAND MIMETICS Abstract A method to determine the utility of small molecules as functional replacements (mimetics) for protein receptor ligands is described. The method uses cellular biological assays on a systematic array of compounds, comprising known protein receptor ligands and other biologically active molecules to determine if a proposed small molecule is a functional equivalent of a receptor ligand, having therapeutic utility as a pharmaceutically relevant and useful agent either alone or in combination with other molecules.