Global drug discovery and development major Symeres has joined forces with pre-clinical biotech Ambagon Therapeutics to explore a cutting-edge class of small molecules known as molecular glues, aiming to tackle colorectal cancer and other hard-to-treat diseases.

 

Molecular glues are an emerging therapeutic approach that stabilizes interactions between proteins, offering an alternative to conventional inhibitors or activators. The strategy could expand the druggable proteome while reducing the toxicity seen with traditional therapies.

 

Under the collaboration, Symeres will test Ambagon’s newly designed molecular glues using in vitro assays and mechanistic studies. Key work includes evaluating ternary complex kinetics with surface plasmon resonance (ResidenceTimer) and assessing functional impacts on disease-relevant pathways.

 

Researchers will also use fluorescence microscopy to monitor inhibition of target protein nuclear translocation and analyze downstream pathway activity via qPCR and Western blot. The molecules’ therapeutic potential will be further evaluated through cancer cell viability assays.

 

“Targeting previously undruggable proteins remains one of the key challenges in oncology drug discovery,” said Jorg Benningshof, Managing Director, Oncolines, a Symeres company. “By combining Ambagon’s molecular glue technology with our translational research capabilities, we aim to generate meaningful insights to accelerate preclinical development across a variety of therapeutic conditions.”

 

Symeres will bolster the effort with its synthesis and validation services, including profiling across 102 cancer cell lines, providing early insights into compound behavior and supporting confident progression towards IND.

 

Christian Ottmann, Co-founder and CSO of Ambagon Therapeutics, said: “This collaboration enables us to deepen our understanding of how molecular glues can modulate disease-relevant pathways in colorectal cancer. Working with Symeres provides access to robust validation platforms that are critical for progressing our pipeline.”

 

The partnership underscores the biotech industry’s growing focus on novel modalities capable of unlocking challenging biological targets and improving outcomes for patients with complex cancers.