PRESS RELEASES
// July 25, 2022
NEOsphere Biotechnologies closes financing round to expand proteomic platform for systematic identification of novel targets for targeted protein degradation
NEOsphere Biotechnologies closes financing round to discover therapeutic protein degraders via expanded proteomics platform
Martinsried, Germany, 25 July 2022. – NEOsphere Biotechnologies GmbH today announced the completion of a Series A financing round to further expand its proteomics platform that screens extensive small-molecule libraries for degraders of pathogenic proteins previously considered undruggable.
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) aims to eliminate rather than inhibit disease-causing proteins. Unlike traditional small-molecule drugs that only inhibit targets, degradation-inducing molecules deplete their targets and do not require active binding sites to exert their effect. Thus, entities like molecular glues, heterobifunctional degraders known as proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs), monovalent degraders, and deubiquitinase inhibitors can potentially target the large part of the human proteome that lacks active binding sites and is thus inaccessible to small-molecule inhibitors. This novel therapeutic mechanism makes protein degraders promising therapeutic agents for indications of high medical need unmet by conventional medicines.
Although protein degraders have the potential to become blockbuster drugs in many therapeutic areas including cancer and neurology, their discovery has been largely serendipitous. Thus, the target reach and selectivity of many TPD compounds is largely unknown. NEOsphere Biotechnologies fills that gap. NEOsphere Biotechnologies offers its strategic partners in-depth screening of compound libraries of any size against the full human proteome to initiate and advance drug discovery of degrader molecules.
NEOsphere Biotechnologies combines data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry (DIA-MS) with custom-built data interpretation to deliver high-throughput proteomic analysis with superior sensitivity, precision, and data completeness. The platform is fast and highly scalable to align with drug development cycles. It screens thousands of degrader compounds against more than 10,000 proteins. Once identified, candidates are validated as novel degrader targets using powerful technologies such as high-throughput interactomics or ubiquitination analysis to an unparalleled depth of 50,000 sites.
Prof. Henrik Daub, scientific founder and Chief Scientific Officer of NEOsphere Biotechnologies comments: “To exploit the full potential of TPD, proteome-wide analysis should ideally accompany any degrader molecule, from initial characterization at the screening stage to final drug candidate nomination. Our platform allows for deep proteomic screening compatible with both early target discovery and advanced compound optimization, granting unprecedented access to the previously undruggable target space. Working with our partners, we aim to connect their innovative degrader chemistries with the whole proteome. Thus, we create novel drug discovery opportunities at scale and enable our partners to build broad and robust pipelines of first-in-class therapeutics.”
About NEOsphere Biotechnologies
NEOsphere Biotechnologies is a pioneering proteomics company that creates value in strategic partnerships looking to systematically discover and develop therapeutic degrader targets that cannot be accessed by traditional small molecule approaches. Located in Munich’s biotech hub, the company uses cutting-edge mass spectrometry technology to screen libraries of tens of thousands of compounds against proteomes of more than 10,000 proteins. Purpose-built data processing systematically extracts high-probability candidates that are validated as novel degrader targets via mechanistic methods like ubiquitination analysis at an unprecedented depth of 50,000 sites. NEOsphere Biotechnologies’ integrated target discovery system connects innovative degrader chemistries to the previously untreatable proteome, revealing new entry points for drug development that generate broad pipelines of first-in-class therapeutics.
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NEOsphere Biotechnologies GmbH
Dr Jutta Fritz, CBO
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Web www.neospherebiotechnologies.com
// May 14, 2024
NEOsphere Biotechnologies partners with Kymera Therapeutics for Novel Molecular Glue Target Discovery
Martinsried, May 14, 2024. – NEOsphere Biotechnologies GmbH, a German biotechnology company pioneering high-throughput proteomics to systematically build broad and unique portfolios of novel degrader targets at scale, today announced a collaboration with Kymera Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: KYMR) focused on unlocking undrugged or poorly drugged disease-causing protein targets that can be only or best addressed by Targeted Protein Degradation.
Under the agreement, NEOsphere Biotechnologies will utilize its target- and E3-agnostic platform to screen molecular glue compounds on a proteome-wide level and in a native context. Identified target candidates will be mechanistically validated by global ubiquitinomics, providing unparalleled insights to support Kymera’s robust drug discovery engine. NEOsphere Biotechnologies will receive an upfront payment and is eligible to success-based milestone payments.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Kymera, a global leader in developing highly innovative degrader medicines. This partnership validates the unique potential of NEOsphere Biotechnologies’ platform to systematically explore the target space for molecular glues,” said Prof. Henrik Daub, CSO, and founder of NEOsphere Biotechnologies. “NEOsphere Biotechnologies and Kymera share a strong commitment to innovation and to advance degrader discovery to the next level. By combining Kymera's exceptional drug discovery capabilities with our ability to swiftly identify and proteomically validate novel targets, even for entire compound libraries, we aim to create valuable opportunities to target previously undruggable disease-causing proteins.”
Molecular glue degraders harness the cellular ubiquitin-proteasome system to selectively eliminate disease-causing proteins that are inaccessible with existing technologies, making them a promising therapeutic approach to address a variety of diseases in areas of high unmet need. NEOsphere Biotechnologies’ innovative technology identifies molecular glue targets at a speed that enables immediate compound optimization during ongoing screening. This presents a unique opportunity to significantly expand degrader target portfolios and to unlock the full potential of molecular glues.
NEOsphere Biotechnologies
NEOsphere Biotechnologies is a leader in proteomics for targeted protein degradation drug discovery. Its unique target and E3 ligase-agnostic deep proteomic screening platform combines world-class mass spectrometry with expert data analysis to advance and characterize all types of protein degraders and stabilizers in native cells and to identify molecules that act through new E3 ligases and novel TPD mechanisms. This systematic approach creates broad pipelines of novel, high-value degrader targets at scale and advances its partners’ TPD drug discovery programs at all stages. NEOsphere Biotechnologies’ global ubiquitinomics platform rapidly mechanistically validates target candidates and confirms degrader induced modification to an unparalleled depth. Automated processes and exceptional high-throughput capabilities ensure maximum proteome coverage, accuracy, precision and data completeness, with short turnaround times compatible with drug optimization cycles. NEOsphere Biotechnologies’ intuitive and user-friendly data analysis applications visualize even large proteomics datasets for immediate access, enabling informed decisions in drug discovery, SAR optimization, target identification, and library expansion. For more information, please visit www.neospherebiotech.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
About Kymera Therapeutics
Kymera is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the field of targeted protein degradation (TPD) to develop medicines that address critical health problems and have the potential to dramatically improve patients’ lives. Kymera is deploying TPD to address disease targets and pathways inaccessible with conventional therapeutics. Having advanced the first degrader into the clinic for immunological diseases, Kymera is focused on delivering oral small molecule degraders to provide a new generation of convenient, highly effective therapies for patients with these conditions. Kymera is also progressing degrader oncology programs that target undrugged or poorly drugged proteins to create new ways to fight cancer. Founded in 2016, Kymera has been recognized as one of Boston’s top workplaces for the past several years. For more information about our science, pipeline and people, please visit https://www.kymeratx.com or follow us on X (previously Twitter) or LinkedIn.
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NEOsphere Biotechnologies GmbH
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