编者按:诱导接近(induced proximity)机制通过将蛋白或核酸拉近形成复合体,从而调控靶点功能。基于这一机制开发的靶向蛋白降解剂(TPD)已成为新药研发的热点之一。与传统抑制剂不同,它们无需直接抑制靶蛋白活性,而是通过降解疾病相关蛋白,有望靶向许多长期被认为“不可成药”的靶点。药明康德在TPD技术刚刚起步时,就开始布局相关能力和技术,积累了丰富的成功经验,搭建起集发现、合成、分析纯化和测试等能力于一体的一站式赋能平台。近年来,基于诱导接近机制的研发已不再局限于TPD,还扩展至针对难以成药靶点的抑制剂开发,以及组织特异性药物的开发。本文将回顾2025年该领域的最新进展,并介绍药明康德的一体化CRDMO平台如何高效解决诱导接近药物开发过程中的诸多挑战。
异双功能性蛋白降解剂:首款PROTAC®疗法有望获批,降解靶点多元化
异双功能性蛋白降解剂的一端与靶点蛋白结合,而另一端与介导蛋白酶体降解、溶酶体降解、或细胞内吞等蛋白降解过程的功能性蛋白相结合,从而促进对靶点蛋白的选择性降解。其中临床进展最快的是蛋白降解靶向嵌合体(PROTAC®)。今年8月,美国FDA接受靶向降解雌激素受体(ER)的vepdegestrant的新药申请(NDA),用于治疗既往接受过内分泌治疗、ER+/HER2-且伴有ESR1突变的晚期或转移性乳腺癌患者。如果最终获批,它将成为首个获FDA批准的PROTAC®雌激素受体降解剂。这也标志着在PROTAC®概念诞生的20多年后,这类创新疗法将进入全新阶段。
Vepdegestrant之外,多款异双功能性蛋白降解剂也获得积极临床进展,例如Arvinas公司靶向LRRK2的PROTAC®分子ARV-102在1期临床试验中显著降低健康志愿者中枢神经系统(CNS)和外周的LRRK2蛋白水平。其靶向BCL6的PROTAC®分子ARV-393在首次人体临床试验中也观察到多名非霍奇金淋巴瘤(NHL)患者产生应答。
值得一提的是,除了已有获批药物所靶向的成熟靶点(例如ER、AR、BTK、EGFR、IKZF等)之外,新一代异双功能性蛋白降解剂的靶点类型更为丰富,其中包括多个传统小分子药物难以靶向的靶点,例如STAT6、BCL6、IRF5等转录因子,以及IRAK4、KRAS G12D等难以成药的靶点。治疗疾病的范围也从肿瘤学适应症扩展至神经退行性疾病和免疫介导疾病。这一趋势显示出靶向降解疗法在攻克难以成药靶点方面的潜力。
异双功能性蛋白降解剂并不只局限于降解细胞内蛋白。Biohaven公司开发的靶向蛋白降解剂BHV-1300和BHV-1400在早期临床试验中表现出显著降低细胞外蛋白水平的能力。这两款在研药物均为双特异性分子,一端与靶蛋白结合,另一端与肝细胞表面的去唾液酸糖蛋白受体(ASGPR)结合。该受体可介导肝细胞通过内吞作用,将靶蛋白摄入细胞内并降解。临床试验数据显示,BHV-1300和BHV-1400注射入患者体内后,短短数小时内即介导了靶蛋白的快速降解,蛋白水平降幅达到70%-80%,凸显出这类药物迅速的起效速度与临床应用潜力。
分子胶降解剂:多款疗法获得临床概念验证,大药企持续布局
分子胶降解剂通过与靶蛋白或E3泛素连接酶结合,即可诱导或稳定它们之间的相互作用,从而实现蛋白降解。这一细分领域近年来得到多家大药企的青睐。在2025年,多款在研分子胶降解剂获得积极临床结果。例如,在近期结束的美国血液学会(ASH)年会上,百时美施贵宝(Bristol Myers Squibb)公布了在研口服E3泛素连接酶cereblon调节药物(CELMoD)mezigdomide和iberdomide在多发性骨髓瘤患者中的更新临床研究结果,以及golcadomide在NHL患者中的研究进展。
Monte Rosa Therapeutics公司靶向降解GSPT1的分子胶降解剂MRT-2359,在治疗对雄激素受体(AR)靶向疗法耐药的去势抵抗性前列腺癌(CRPC)患者时表现出抗癌活性。此外,其靶向VAV1的分子胶降解剂MRT-6160,在健康志愿者中进行的1期临床试验中表现出良好的安全性和耐受性,并且可将外周血T细胞中的VAV1水平降低超过90%。
该公司在今年9月还与诺华(Novartis)达成新的研发协议,联合推动针对免疫介导疾病的创新分子胶降解剂的开发。
诺华与Monte Rosa Therapeutics公司的合作之外,多家大药企也在分子胶领域持续布局。例如,今年6月,吉利德科学(Gilead Sciences)与Kymera Therapeutics公司达成研发授权与许可合作,共同开发靶向CDK2的分子胶降解剂。此外,艾伯维(AbbVie)公司在1月也与Neomorph公司达成超16亿美元的分子胶蛋白降解剂研发合作。
一体化平台助力分子胶早期发现
药明康德一体化平台的能力不但涵盖PROTAC®,还包括分子胶、以及多种新兴双功能分子。以分子胶药物发现为例,早期研发阶段中,无偏倚药物筛选的低命中率始终是一大挑战。为助力合作伙伴有效应对这一难题,药明康德采取了“双轨并进”的策略,构建起一套兼顾广度与深度的化合物库体系:一方面,通过多样化的DNA编码化合物库(DEL)大范围探索新靶点;另一方面,借助聚焦化合物库精细化研究已知蛋白体系,提升发现效率。
▲药明康德分子胶发现平台
在分子胶药物的早期发现过程中,药明康德不仅依赖DNA编码化合物库进行筛选,还不断引入并整合多种先进技术,以助力合作伙伴拓展分子胶药物的发现能力。其中,亲和筛选质谱(ASMS)提供无标记筛选手段。药明康德构建了一个涵盖超过37万个小分子的广谱化合物库,通过比较这些分子在单蛋白与双蛋白条件下的质谱信号差异,精准识别出能够促进蛋白–蛋白相互作用的潜在分子胶候选物,从而识别出潜在促互作的小分子。
与此同时,公司还部署高通量筛选(HTS)技术。在“一孔一化合物”的自动化运行模式下,结合蛋白结合能力或降解能力等功能性实验,HTS能迅速锁定具备生物活性的候选分子,大幅提升筛选效率与准确性。通过将ASMS与HTS等多维筛选工具与DEL平台深度融合,药明康德打破了单一筛选方式的限制,让更多不同类型的靶点进入分子胶研究视野,进一步拓宽了分子胶在多类靶点上的研发空间。
超越蛋白降解,创新诱导接近药物获得概念验证
选择性降解目标蛋白只是诱导接近作用机制的应用之一,近年来多家公司已经着手利用诱导接近机制,开辟调控信号通路新方法。例如,Revolution Medicines公司研发的RAS抑制剂elironrasib通过招募cyclophilin这一呈递蛋白,实现了对激活状态下KRAS G12C蛋白的特异性靶向与抑制。今年7月,该药物获得FDA授予的突破性疗法认定,用于治疗携带KRAS G12C突变的非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)患者。Elironrasib单药治疗在既往未接受KRAS抑制剂的经治NSCLC患者中达到56%的客观缓解率(ORR)和94%的疾病控制率(DCR);与pembrolizumab联用时,一线治疗的ORR更是高达100%,显示出可喜的初步疗效。
Halda Therapeutics公司的调节诱导接近靶向嵌合体(RIPTAC)则代表另一种新策略。这类异双功能分子的一端结合富集于癌细胞中的靶点蛋白,另一端结合细胞生存必需的关键蛋白。当细胞同时表达这两种蛋白时,RIPTAC分子将两者结合形成复合体,使关键蛋白失活,从而诱导癌细胞死亡。今年公布的首个临床试验结果显示,该公司靶向雄激素受体的RIPTAC在研药物HLD-0915,在1/2期临床试验中表现出令人鼓舞的抗肿瘤活性迹象,包括前列腺特异性抗原(PSA)水平下降及依据实体瘤疗效评估标准(RECIST)观察到的缓解。在今年11月,强生(Johnson & Johnson)宣布,将以总额30.5亿美元收购Halda Therapeutics。
值得一提的是,作为全球支持蛋白降解疗法研发的重要赋能平台之一,药明康德也一路见证了Halda公司从萌芽、成长,到如今的快速发展。在2024年药明康德举办的投资者日期间,药明康德联席首席执行官杨青博士提到了这些成就背后的创业和合作故事。公开信息显示,早在2016年,药明康德在蛋白降解疗法开发尚在起步阶段时就建设了相应能力,也是全球最早赋能RIPTAC类药物研发的公司之一。作为Halda的合作伙伴,药明康德在多个环节深度赋能该公司的新药研发,助力一流基础科学发现转化为创新疗法。
强生公司之外,多家大药企也在布局非降解型诱导接近疗法。例如今年2月,礼来(Eli Lilly and Company)与Magnet Biomedicine公司签署一项近13亿美元的合作协议。双方合作的范围不仅涵盖基于分子胶的蛋白降解剂研发,还将探索利用分子胶促进蛋白质之间产生诱导接近和协同作用,精准靶向疾病相关组织的创新作用机制。
今年5月,基因泰克(Genentech)与Orionis Biosciences达成超过20亿美元的研发合作协议,致力于开发靶向难以成药靶点的小分子单价分子胶药物,用于癌症治疗。
第一三共在今年11月与General Proximity达成研发合作,共同开发新一代基于诱导接近的抗癌药物。
▲2025年大型药企在诱导接近领域的布局(数据来源:公开资料,截至12月9日)
诱导接近领域的创新无处不在。药明康德的核心策略之一是跟随科学的发展。面对层出不穷的新分子类型,药明康德及时捕捉机遇,为立足前沿的创新者赋能。今年9月的药明康德投资者开放日上发布的数据显示,在靶向蛋白降解领域,药明康德R端业务客户渗透率高达67%。
展望未来,药明康德将继续秉持“让天下没有难做的药,难治的病”的愿景,依托全球研发基地与生产网络,以独特的一体化、端到端的CRDMO模式,助力包括靶向蛋白降解剂在内的诱导接近药物的开发,帮助合作伙伴将科学创新转化为惠及全球患者的变革性药物。
CRDMO: 2025 Review of Induced Proximity Drugs
The induced proximity mechanism regulates target function by bringing proteins or nucleic acids into close proximity to form complexes. Targeted protein degraders (TPDs) developed on this basis have become one of the hottest areas in drug discovery. Unlike traditional inhibitors, TPDs do not need to block target activity directly; instead, they eliminate disease-related proteins, opening opportunities to tackle many proteins once deemed “undruggable.” When TPD technology was still in its infancy, WuXi AppTec started building relevant capabilities. Since then, the company has established a comprehensive, integrated platform encompassing discovery, synthesis, purification, analysis, and testing. In recent years, induced proximity has extended beyond TPDs to include inhibitors for hard-to-drug targets and tissue-specific therapies. This article reviews progress in 2025 and highlights how WuXi AppTec’s integrated CRDMO platform helps overcome the unique challenges of developing induced proximity medicines.
Bifunctional Degraders: First PROTAC® Therapy Expected to Receive Approval
Bifunctional degraders are designed so that one end binds the target protein, while the other recruits proteins involved in proteasomal degradation, lysosomal degradation, or endocytosis, enabling selective degradation. Among these, proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTAC®) have achieved the most advanced clinical progress.
A major milestone occurred in August when the U.S. FDA accepted the NDA for vepdegestrant, a PROTAC® targeting the estrogen receptor (ER) for previously treated ER+/HER2− metastatic or advanced breast cancer with ESR1 mutations. If approved, vepdegestrant would become the first FDA-approved PROTAC® estrogen receptor degrader, marking a new stage for a modality first conceptualized more than 20 years ago.
Additional bifunctional degraders are also advancing, including:
ARV-102, developed by Arvinas to target LRRK2, significantly reduced central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral protein levels in healthy volunteers in a Phase 1 trial.
ARV-393, targeting BCL6, demonstrated responses in several non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients in a first-in-human evaluation.
These programs highlight a broader trend. Beyond well-validated targets such as ER, AR, BTK, EGFR, IKZF, next-generation degraders are reaching more diverse and historically difficult targets, including transcription factors such as STAT6, BCL6, IRF5, as well as challenging targets such as IRAK4 and KRAS G12D.
Development has also expanded from oncology to neurodegenerative and immune-mediated diseases, underscoring the therapeutic promise of targeted degradation.
Bifunctional degraders are not limited to intracellular proteins. Biohaven’s BHV-1300 and BHV-1400 demonstrated rapid reduction of extracellular proteins in early trials. These bispecific molecules bind both the target protein and the ASGPR receptor on hepatocytes, enabling endocytosis and degradation.
Within hours of administration, both agents reduced target protein levels by 70–80%, highlighting rapid onset and clear clinical potential.
Molecular Glue Degraders: Proof of Concept Across Multiple Programs as Big Pharma Invests Aggressively
Molecular glue degraders induce or stabilize interactions between target proteins and E3 ligases, enabling degradation. This space has attracted strong pharmaceutical interest, and 2025 brought a wave of positive clinical data.
At the ASH Annual Meeting, Bristol Myers Squibb presented updated results for mezigdomide and iberdomide, oral CELMoD agents in multiple myeloma; and new findings for golcadomide in NHL.
Monte Rosa Therapeutics reported that MRT-2359, targeting GSPT1, showed antitumor activity in CRPC that was resistant to AR-directed therapy. MRT-6160, targeting VAV1, reduced VAV1 levels in peripheral T cells by >90% with favorable safety in healthy volunteers.
In September, Monte Rosa and Novartis entered an R&D agreement to co-develop degraders for immune-mediated diseases.
Other partnerships demonstrate sustained momentum:
In June, Gilead Sciences and Kymera Therapeutics initiated a collaboration to develop a CDK2 molecular glue.
In January, AbbVie formed a >$1.6 billion partnership with Neomorph to advance protein degraders.
Together, these alliances illustrate strategic, long-term investment from leading biopharma companies.
WuXi AppTec’s integrated platform supports not only PROTAC® development but also molecular glues and other bifunctional modalities. By uniting cutting-edge screening technologies, tailored library design, and deep scientific expertise, WuXi AppTec offers a fully integrated platform for molecular glue discovery. This approach supports partners across:
• Hit identification and validation
• Mechanistic characterization and degradation profiling
• Lead optimization and SAR development
Beyond Degradation: New Induced Proximity Mechanisms Achieve Clinical Validation
Selective degradation represents only one application of induced proximity. Increasingly, new approaches are being developed to regulate signaling pathways.
A notable example comes from Revolution Medicines. Its RAS inhibitor elironrasib recruited cyclophilin as a presenter protein to selectively target and inhibit active-state KRAS G12C. In July, the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for elironrasib in KRAS G12C-mutant NSCLC. Phase 1 data were compelling: in previously treated patients without prior KRAS inhibitors, monotherapy achieved a 56% ORR and 94% disease control rate (DCR). In combination with pembrolizumab as first-line therapy, the ORR reached 100%, signaling strong early potential.
Halda Therapeutics is advancing another strategy with Regulated Induced Proximity Targeting Chimeras (RIPTACs). These heterobifunctional molecules bind a cancer-enriched target protein on one end and an essential survival protein on the other. By bringing the two together, RIPTACs inactivate the survival protein, triggering cancer cell death.
Early clinical results for HLD-0915, a RIPTAC targeting androgen receptor, showed PSA reductions and RECIST-based responses.
In November, Johnson & Johnson announced a $3.05 billion acquisition of Halda Therapeutics.
Beyond J&J, additional big pharmaceutical companies are advancing non-degrader induced proximity approaches through collaborations:
In February, Eli Lilly signed a nearly $1.3 billion agreement with Magnet Biomedicine.
In May, Genentech and Orionis Biosciences launched a >$2 billion collaboration to develop monovalent glues for cancer.
In November, Daiichi Sankyo partnered with General Proximity on next-generation induced proximity anticancer drugs.
Together, these collaborations demonstrate expanding industrial commitment.
Looking Ahead
Innovation in induced proximity is unfolding across the entire biopharmaceutical landscape. One of WuXi AppTec’s core strategies is to follow where the science leads. As new molecular types and mechanisms continue to emerge, WuXi AppTec rapidly identifies opportunities and empowers innovators at the frontier.
During the 2025 WuXi AppTec Investor Day, data showed that in the targeted protein degradation space, 67% of active clients in the field collaborate with WuXi AppTec since 2021.
Guided by its vision that “every drug can be made and every disease can be treated”, WuXi AppTec remains committed to leveraging its unique, fully integrated, end-to-end CRDMO model to help partners transform scientific innovation into transformative therapies for patients worldwide.
免责声明:本文仅作信息交流之目的,文中观点不代表药明康德立场,亦不代表药明康德支持或反对文中观点。本文也不是治疗方案推荐。如需获得治疗方案指导,请前往正规医院就诊。
版权说明:欢迎个人转发至朋友圈,谢绝媒体或机构未经授权以任何形式转载至其他平台。转载授权请在「药明康德」微信公众号回复“转载”,获取转载须知。
分享,点赞,在看,聚焦全球生物医药健康创新