Symeres has partnered with Ambagon Therapeutics to explore a new class of small molecules, known as molecular glues, for potential use in colorectal cancer and other hard-to-target diseases.
Molecular glues represent an emerging therapeutic modality that enables or stabilizes interactions between proteins, offering an alternative to conventional inhibitors or activators. This approach has the potential to expand the druggable proteome while reducing toxicity associated with traditional treatment strategies.
Under the collaboration, Symeres will evaluate Ambagon’s newly designed molecular glues through a series of in vitro assays and mechanistic studies. The project will focus on the evaluation of ternary complex kinetics using surface plasmon resonance (ResidenceTimer™), alongside cellular assays to assess functional impact on disease-relevant pathways.
Fluorescence microscopy will be used to examine the inhibition of target protein nuclear translocation, while downstream effects on pathway activity will be analyzed through quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot techniques. The therapeutic potential of the molecular glues will also be assessed using cancer cell viability assays.
“Targeting previously undruggable proteins remains one of the key challenges in oncology drug discovery,” said Jorg Benningshof, Managing Director, Oncolines, a Symeres company. “By combining Ambagon’s molecular glue technology with our translational research capabilities, we aim to generate meaningful insights to accelerate preclinical development across a variety of therapeutic conditions.”