UK-based biotech company Outrun Therapeutics has announced its launch with a $10m seed investment to advance its protein stabilisation pipeline focused on E3 ligase inhibitors.
The financial injection was provided by venture capital entities M Ventures and MP Healthcare Venture Management.
The company, a spin-out from the University of Dundee's MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, is pioneering the development of small molecule drugs targeting E3 ligases.
The investment will enable Outrun to enhance its platform, which has already facilitated the rapid construction of a pipeline of E3 ligase inhibitors.
These inhibitors maintain levels of critical proteins that are destabilised in certain diseases, interfering with the body's natural disease suppression mechanisms.
Outrun’s lead programme is a small molecule inhibitor targeting an E3 ligase linked to tumour suppressor protein destabilisation in hard-to-treat solid tumours.
Its high-throughput platform allows for a robust, highly accurate quantitative assessment of E3 ligase targets. The technology cuts down the time needed to discover E3 ligase inhibitors while enhancing specificity and target binding.
The platform's use of engineered protein sensors sheds light on the intricate biochemistry of E3 ligases, paving the way for the discovery of drugs with enhanced binding and specificity properties.
The company's approach is both scalable and modular, aiding in the creation of next-generation small molecule drugs that stabilise proteins.
Outrun Therapeutics CEO Dr Carolyn Porter stated: “Protein stabilisation is the mirror image of protein degradation and seeks to maintain the levels of critical proteins that are otherwise unbalanced in certain diseases, disrupting the body's highly sophisticated natural disease suppression processes.
“We are bringing our world-class knowledge of E3 ligase biology and protein-to-protein interactions, combined with our proprietary discovery platform, to unlock the potential of this exciting new therapeutic area."
