Chemical proteomics, also known as chemoproteomics, is a complex yet crucial aspect of drug discovery in the field of omics. BridGene Biosciences, under the leadership of CEO and co-founder Ping Cao, has developed a platform called IMTAC that utilizes chemoproteomics to analyze interactions between potential drug compounds and cellular proteins. In simple terms, covalent small molecules act as “baits” designed to attract specific proteins, much like different types of bait attract different fish species.
The success of BridGene’s approach is evident in its pipeline, which includes a novel TEAD inhibitor for treating advanced solid tumors with hippo pathway dysregulation. The company recently announced the dosing of the first patient in a phase 1 clinical trial for this candidate. Building on this success, BridGene has entered into a strategic collaboration with Takeda to discover small molecule drugs for traditionally hard-to-drug targets in immunology and neurology. This partnership, valued at up to $770 million, underscores the potential of chemoproteomics in drug discovery.
This collaboration between BridGene and Takeda marks the third time the two companies have worked together, with previous successes in identifying drug candidates for debilitating neurological disorders. BridGene’s co-founder and executive vice president, Irene Yuan, highlights the importance of chemical proteomics in identifying targets that were previously considered hard to drug. By screening the entire proteome of live cells, BridGene’s IMTAC platform enables the discovery of small molecule drugs for a wide range of challenging targets.
The future looks promising for BridGene Biosciences, as the company plans to continue internal drug development while also exploring collaborations with large pharmaceutical companies. Yuan emphasizes the role of covalent drugs in addressing hard-to-drug targets, signaling a shift towards innovative approaches in the pharmaceutical industry. With a focus on rapid drug discovery and development processes, BridGene is poised to make significant contributions to the field of chemoproteomics and drug discovery.
As the industry shifts towards addressing challenging targets, the importance of chemical proteomics and covalent drugs cannot be understated. BridGene Biosciences is at the forefront of this cutting-edge technology, paving the way for new advancements in drug discovery and development.
