PROXIDRUGS

© PROXIDRUGS

Next generation innovation network PROXIDRUGS

PROXIDRUGS plans to develop innovative therapies for a broad spectrum of human diseases. Central to the cluster’s strategy is an innovative mode of action that removes disease-causing proteins and other harmful cellular structures in a targeted fashion, facilitated by the new class of proximity-induced drugs.

The respective drugs are usually small, bifunctional molecules that bind specifically to the target structure and to a specific enzyme. Once brought together, the enzyme marks the disease-relevant structure for degradation in the cellular waste system.
This mode of action has many advantages: Proxidrugs are highly specific, effective at low doses and, most importantly, are capable of attacking the 80% of proteins that are so far deemed as undruggable.

Until now, the development of this drug class is still in its infancy. PROXIDRUGS aims at systematically exploiting this strategy to develop better therapies for oncological, inflammatory, infectious, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Partners involved in the implementation come from basic, clinical and application-oriented research disciplines in the Rhine-Main area.

Together, the partner bring on bord the complete range of interdisciplinary expertise needed. By close cooperation with pharmaceutical companies, the entire value chain from basic to translational research is covered and rapid technology transfer is ensured.

The idea for PROXIDRUGS was born in 2019 in response to the first call of the BMBF-Clusters4Future competition. In a multi-stage selection process, PROXIDRUGS initially made it into the already funded conception phase in 2020 and was finally selected as one of seven next generation innovation networks in the beginning of 2021. Since October 2021, PROXIDRUGS has been receiving funding for an initial three-year implementation phase.