Outrun Therapeutics, an E3 ligase inhibitor, and protein stabilization specialist, exited stealth following a $10 million seed funding round. And its platform enabled it to rapidly build a pipeline of highly selective, small-molecule, first-in-class E3 ligase inhibitors and identify novel E3 ligase targets across multiple disease areas. Outrun’s lead program is focused on hard-to-treat solid tumors.
E3 ligase inhibition in protein stabilization has been of high interest as a therapeutic approach to treating many diseases. Cells have evolved highly sophisticated ways of keeping disease at bay, and empowering the body to care for itself is potentially the most effective way of suppressing disease.
Inhibiting targeted E3 ligases enables protein stabilization at-source, directly part of the tagging mechanism involved in healthy cellular processing of destabilized, unwanted, or misformed proteins. This restores the body’s sophisticated natural disease suppression processes and could apply to various indications, including oncology and neurology.
Selective protein stabilization by inhibiting specific E3 ligases will expand the disease indications that can be addressed with protein stabilization and minimize side effects. About 700 E3 ligases represent the vast number of discrete cellular processes they control, offering potential targets for Outrun to develop effective precision medicines against.
Outrun has developed a proprietary, high throughput platform that allows robust, highly accurate, quantitative assessment of the specificity and selectivity of E3 ligase targets, thereby dramatically reducing the discovery time for E3 ligase inhibitors and improving specificity and target binding. Plus, the platform uses engineered protein sensors (EPS) to uncover the detailed biochemistry of E3 ligases, enabling the discovery of drugs with potentially superior binding, specificity, and activity.
Outrun’s approach is a scalable and modular strategy for developing next-generation small molecule drugs targeting E3 ligases, particularly inhibitors that stabilize proteins.
Led by a seasoned management team and a strong Board, Outrun was spun out of founder Professor Satpal Virdee’s renowned MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit at the University of Dundee. And Outrun’s Scientific Advisory Board consists of highly relevant, world-leading experts in ubiquitylation and oncology. Outrun is backed by leading venture capital investors M Ventures and MP Healthcare Venture Management.
KEY QUOTES:
“Protein stabilization 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.”
- Dr. Carolyn Porter, Chief Executive Officer of Outrun Therapeutics
“We believe protein stabilization via E3 ligase inhibition is a potentially powerful new therapeutic modality. With world-leading research under the guidance of a talented management team, we are confident that Outrun has the potential to transform a variety of disease areas, such as oncology and neurology.”
- Dr. Jeffrey Moore, President at MP Healthcare Venture Management
“We are delighted to be one of the founding investors of Outrun. The Company’s novel platform enabling rapid assessment of the specificity and selectivity of E3 ligase inhibitors, provides a highly competitive edge to reduce discovery timelines and build a first in class pipeline.”
- Dr. Bauke Anninga, Investment Director at M Ventures
