Leading European research institutions are advocating for the establishment of a European Alliance to accelerate the development of proximity-inducing agents such as PROTACs and molecular adhesives. These innovative therapeutic approaches, which specifically degrade or modify disease-causing proteins, could revolutionize the treatment of previously untreatable diseases. The initiative is supported by Goethe University Frankfurt, IRB Barcelona, AITHYRA in Vienna, the University of Dundee and EPFL Lausanne and presented in a perspective article in the journal Molecular Cell.

Proximity-inducing agents use the cell’s own disposal machinery, in particular the ubiquitin-proteasome system and autophagy, to eliminate harmful proteins. In contrast to conventional inhibitors, which only block proteins, these approaches can completely remove disease-relevant proteins. In addition, research is being carried out on the reprogramming of other cellular signaling pathways in order to open up new therapeutic possibilities. The perspective paper describes recent scientific advances, including the path of PROTACs into clinical application, the design of molecular adhesives, and the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to accelerate drug development.

In Germany, the PROXIDRUGS Future Cluster under the leadership of Goethe University Frankfurt is driving research forward. Since October 2021, the cluster has been funded annually with five million euros by the Federal Ministry of Education, Research, Technology and Space. PROXIDRUGS has built up a national network of academic and industrial partners, which is now to be expanded internationally. Goethe University contributes its many years of expertise in research into cellular degradation pathways, while the newly founded Frankfurt Center for Emerging Therapeutics supports research as an innovation hub with modern platforms and rapid technology transfer.

The planned European alliance is intended to bundle the competencies of the participating research centers in medicinal chemistry, structural biology, biophysics, cell biology and computational research. The aim is to facilitate access to technologies, set new standards for drug evaluation and strengthen the link between experimental and computational methods. In addition, real-life models are to be developed to overcome challenges in drug delivery and safety. By attracting public and private funding, the alliance aims to connect European research centres with international pharmaceutical, biotech and technology companies.

The initiative emphasizes the importance of academic research for progress in this area and calls for closer collaboration with industry to fully exploit the therapeutic potential of proximity-inducing agents. Such cooperation is intended to accelerate early drug development, use resources efficiently and promote the next generation of researchers to bring scientific breakthroughs into application more quickly.

Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

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