Journal profile · Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Current Opinion in Chemical Biology
ISSN 1367-5931 · eISSN 1879-0402 · Elsevier Ltd · ENGLAND · Bimonthly · Founded 1997
Current Opinion in Chemical Biology: CAS Zone 2 · Biology (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 7.2; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,510; median 69 days to acceptance (104 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: fairly hard; 43 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Current Opinion in Chemical Biology is published by Elsevier Ltd and is in Zone 2 of Biology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Chemical Synthesis and Analysis, RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms and Click Chemistry and Applications, together about 22.1% of its articles. Its main subfields are Molecular Biology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
COCHBI (Current Opinion in Chemical Biology) is a systematic review journal that publishes invited short reviews with annotated references by leading experts on recent developments in the field of Chemical Biology.The journal aims to publish timely, critical reviews that are of broad interest and cover the most exciting developments, challenges, and future directions in the field.The journal covers the following 9 sections which are is reviewed once a year, these are:OmicsBiocatalysis and BiotransformationBioinorganic ChemistryNext Generation TherapeuticsMolecular ImagingChemical Genetics and EpigeneticsSynthetic BiologySignaling ProcessesMechanistic BiologyThere is also a section that changes regularly to reflect hot topics in the field.COCHBI is a Current Opinion journal, a series of established invite-only review journals that offer authoritative, systematic synthesis of emerging and hot topics. You can find more information on Current Opinion titles here.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Editor-in-chief Yimon AyePublisher website
Editorial board by country: 2 in mainland China (about 4%); most named United States 29, United Kingdom 7, Germany 6, Mainland China 2, Japan 2 (54 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Chemical Synthesis and AnalysisBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology8.6%
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanismsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology6.8%
- Click Chemistry and ApplicationsChemistry6.7%
- Enzyme Catalysis and ImmobilizationBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology5.3%
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniquesBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology5.2%
- Glycosylation and Glycoproteins ResearchBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology5.1%
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies ResearchMedicine4.9%
- Microbial Metabolic Engineering and BioproductionBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology4.5%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Biology Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Biophysics | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: yes
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Biology Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Biophysics | Zone 1 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Biology Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Biophysics | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: yes
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 7.2LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 7.2Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 14LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 14Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 2.26LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.5LetPub ·
- h-index
- 170LetPub ·
- h-index
- 230OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 2,649OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 7.72OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 0%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 34.08%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 24LetPub ·
- Articles per year (publisher)
- 2Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 3,527 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 102 | 72 | 53 |
| 2025 | 43 | 21 | 143 |
| 2024 | 105 | 83 | 1,734 |
| 2023 | 121 | 80 | 2,517 |
| 2022 | 107 | 72 | 2,859 |
| 2021 | 122 | 74 | 4,330 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with PubMed · to
69 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 56 days – 86 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 28 days (104 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 98 days
- Sample
- 104 articles with submission and acceptance dates (163 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- 6–12 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- Fairly hardLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 13 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 54 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 98 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 27 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 4,510 / EUR 4,220 / GBP 3,610 / JPY 559,380 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 4,320 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare6 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 3,500 words
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Highlights
- Optional
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
Article types accepted3
- current opinion paperKey requirements for authors to take into account when preparing a Current Opinion paper:Length not stated
- opinionKey requirements for authors to take into account when preparing a Current Opinion paper:3500 maximum word limit (excluding abstract, references and figure capt…Length not stated
- reviewKey requirements for authors to take into account when preparing a Current Opinion paper:3500 maximum word limit (excluding abstract, references and figure capt…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
Submission by invitation only Model summary
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Single anonymized review process Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Country or region
- ENGLAND
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Bimonthly
- Founded
- 1997
- ISSN
- 1367-5931
- Electronic ISSN
- 1879-0402
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Current Opinion in Chemical Biology
What CAS zone is Current Opinion in Chemical Biology in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Current Opinion in Chemical Biology is in Zone 2 of Biology, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Biochemistry & Molecular Biology / Biophysics. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 2 of Biology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Current Opinion in Chemical Biology?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 7.2; CiteScore 14, h-index 230.
How long does peer review take at Current Opinion in Chemical Biology?
Based on the dates recorded on 104 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 69 days (interquartile range 56–86 days); authors report an average review time of 6–12 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Fairly hard”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Current Opinion in Chemical Biology?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Manuscript length: ≤ 3,500 words; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Highlights: Optional; Graphical abstract: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Current Opinion in Chemical Biology based?
Of the 54 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 2 (about 4%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (29), United Kingdom (7) and Germany (6). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Current Opinion in Chemical Biology?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Current Opinion in Chemical Biology is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Current Opinion in Chemical Biology open access, and what is the APC?
Current Opinion in Chemical Biology is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,510.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .