C4T has pioneered a new and quantitative approach to the discovery of degrader molecules that can target proteins that cause serious disease.
Our TORPEDO® platform (Target ORiented ProtEin Degrader Optimizer) synthesizes a new class of small molecule medicines that are designed to selectively and efficiently destroy disease-causing proteins, including targets previously considered to be undruggable.
Less than 15% of proteins are considered druggable with traditional small molecule inhibitors because of limitations, including lack of accessible active binding sites. By contrast, targeted protein degradation fundamentally enables access to a high proportion of the potential target proteins that are currently considered undruggable. Our degraders are designed with a focus on catalytic efficiency to optimize the overall degradation process.
Since C4T was founded in 2016 we have accumulated comprehensive data for hundreds of high quality degrader molecules directed to degrading a number of target proteins. We leverage this data in combination with leading expertise in the structural biology of E3 ligases and sophisticated computational models to understand the interactions between the target protein, E3 ligase, and degrader molecule. This knowledge fuels the C4T TORPEDO® platform chemistry engine and enables us to optimize the specificity and potency of degrader molecules.
Computational method incorporates experimental data to identify top models
Atomic-level degrader design utilized to improve selectivity and potency
Cellular degradation data fitted using an enzymology framework
Key parameters describe intrinsic degradation activity
Universal modeling framework merges degradation activity with degrader exposure
Robust predictions of depth and duration of in vivo target degradation at any dose