Landmark Indi Molecular(R) Publication in Nature Chemistry Suggests PCC Binding Technology May Enable Therapeutics for Previously Undruggable Targets Based on Mutations of a Single Amino Acid

CULVER CITY, CA–(Marketwired – Apr 13, 2015) – Researchers at Caltech and Indi Molecular announced today a landmark publication in Nature Chemistry suggesting that the PCC (protein catalyzed capture) agent binding technology may enable the creation of highly specific therapeutics for targets that have long been considered undruggable. PCC technology was invented at Caltech and is being commercialized by Indi Molecular. The paper describes the development of molecular binders that are targeted specifically to proteins that are disease-causing based upon a single amino acid mutation. This highly specific targeting of only the disease-associated form of the protein should allow therapeutics that avoid healthy tissues, thus reducing toxic side-effects. The paper describes the development of a PCC agent that selectively binds to and inhibits a mutated, cancer-causing form of the kinase protein Akt. The mutant protein differs from the healthy variant via only a single transforming point mutation (called the E17K mutation). The mutation increases the activity of the protein, which in turn can cause cancer. The research team believe that their strategy will be broadly applicable to a wide range of targets.

Source: Marketwired Biotech