Our Science

C4T TORPEDO® Platform

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.

Degrader design

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.

Our TORPEDO® Platform has the potential to efficiently design highly potent targeted protein degrader medicines.

With the flexibility to design MonoDAC™ and BiDAC™ degraders, we can address different targets with a tailored approach.

We are advancing two types of protein degraders, each of which is intended to result in the same end point — the specific degradation of the target proteins of interest:

We refer to the first type as MonoDACs™, which are Monofunctional Degradation Activating Compounds, which function by binding to E3 ligases and creating a new surface on the E3 ligases that enhances the binding of the E3 ligases to target proteins. MonoDACs are sometimes referred to as “glue degraders.”
We refer to our second type as BiDACs™, which are Bifunctional Degradation Activating Compounds, which are designed so that one end of the molecule binds to the disease-causing target protein and the other end binds to the E3 ligase. BiDACs are sometimes referred to as “heterobifunctional degraders.”

The enhanced catalytic activity induced also drives efficacy.

We can rapidly deliver potent drug candidates through an informed and efficient drug discovery process that enables higher confidence in in vivo efficacy.

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

The TORPEDO® Platform is based on a deep focus on Cereblon, providing the largest target selection opportunity. Our programs benefit from the desirable properties of our Cereblon binders.