A transpacific biotech rushes toward the clinic with a twist on classic protein degraders
The protein degradation space has erupted in the last few years, with investors goggling at the idea of eliminating problematic proteins via the body’s natural garbage disposal system. Now another candidate is bound for the clinic — but instead of using PROTACs, this one relies on a busy group of proteins called chaperones.
Hangzhou, China-based Ranok Therapeutics unveiled a $40 million Series B round on Wednesday to fund its CHAMP program, short for chaperone-mediated protein degradation. While other degraders make use of a molecule called PROTAC, which binds to ubiquitin E3 ligases to send unwanted proteins to the molecular shredder, Ranok thinks it has a more selective approach using the chaperone network.
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