Outrun Therapeutics, a pioneering force in E3 ligase inhibition and protein stabilization, has announced its emergence from stealth mode, bolstered by a substantial $10 million seed financing round. The company’s innovative platform has swiftly generated a robust pipeline of highly selective, small molecule, first-in-class E3 ligase inhibitors, alongside the discovery of novel E3 ligase targets that span a variety of disease areas.

With a keen focus on combating hard-to-treat solid tumors, Outrun’s leading program is at the forefront of a therapeutic approach that has garnered immense interest within the medical community. The strategy centers on the inhibition of targeted E3 ligases, a process integral to the body’s natural defense against disease. By stabilizing proteins at their source, this method reinstates the body’s intricate disease suppression mechanisms, offering potential treatments across a spectrum of conditions, notably in oncology and neurology.

The company’s commitment to selective protein stabilization through the inhibition of specific E3 ligases is poised to broaden the scope of treatable diseases while simultaneously reducing side effects. With approximately 700 E3 ligases identified, each governing distinct cellular processes, Outrun is well-positioned to develop precision medicines that are both effective and targeted.

Outrun’s proprietary high-throughput platform represents a quantum leap in the drug discovery process. It enables a robust, highly accurate, and quantitative evaluation of E3 ligase targets, significantly curtailing the time required to discover E3 ligase inhibitors and enhancing both specificity and target binding. The platform’s utilization of engineered protein sensors (EPS) sheds light on the intricate biochemistry of E3 ligases, paving the way for the development of drugs with superior binding, specificity, and activity.

The company’s strategic approach is both scalable and modular, designed to foster the development of next-generation small molecule drugs that target E3 ligases, with a particular emphasis on inhibitors that stabilize proteins.

Dr Carolyn Porter, Chief Executive Officer of Outrun Therapeutics, said: “Protein stabilisation 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 Jeffrey Moore, President at MP Healthcare Venture Management, commented: “We believe protein stabilisation 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 Bauke Anninga, Investment Director at M Ventures, added: “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.”

Guided by an experienced management team and a distinguished Board, Outrun Therapeutics was spun out of Prof. Satpal Virdee’s globally acclaimed MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit at the University of Dundee. The company’s Scientific Advisory Board is composed of world-leading experts in ubiquitylation and oncology, ensuring that Outrun’s trajectory is informed by the highest levels of expertise. Financial backing from prominent venture capital investors M Ventures and MP Healthcare Venture Management further solidifies Outrun’s position as a trailblazer in the quest to harness the body’s own mechanisms for disease suppression.

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