- Research Project
PROXIDRUGS: Innovative therapies for human diseases: Targeted degradation as a new mode of action for drugs
- Life Sciences
Illustration: Design_Cells, Kateryna Kon – shutterstock.com | Design: Tanja Labs – artefont.de
PROXIDRUGS is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space as part of Germany’s Clusters4Future initiative since October 2021. The cluster focuses on developing new active compounds for diseases with a high unmet medical need by using the innovative concept of targeted protein degradation. Proximity-inducing drugs can trigger the degradation of disease-relevant proteins in a highly specific manner by directing them towards the cellular recycling system. This approach opens up new therapeutic opportunities for a wide range of diseases. It is estimated that up to 80% of proteins previously considered undruggable could be addressed using this strategy.
PROXIDRUGS aims to further advance this new class of therapeutics in several aspects. These include the identification of suitable functional building blocks for the design of new compound molecules, the targeted optimization of pharmacological properties, and the translation of drug candidates into clinical studies. Currently, the cluster brings together 22 partners from academia and industry across various research projects, covering the entire value chain from basic research to translational research.
