Peptone, a biotechnology company specializing in novel therapeutics targeting intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), announced on May 8, 2025, a strategic partnership with Evotec to accelerate the development of small molecule IDP-targeted treatments across diverse therapeutic areas. The collaboration aims to overcome longstanding challenges in targeting these dynamic proteins that have traditionally been considered "undruggable."
The partnership will leverage Evotec's comprehensive drug discovery capabilities, including expertise in oncology and immunology, extensive assay development, and advanced screening technologies. These resources will be integrated with Peptone's physics-based approach to understanding IDP structural dynamics, creating a powerful platform for therapeutic development.
Targeting the "Undruggable" Proteome
Intrinsically disordered proteins represent approximately 30% of the human proteome and are implicated in numerous diseases, yet they have remained largely inaccessible to traditional drug development approaches. Unlike conventional proteins with stable three-dimensional structures, IDPs exist in multiple conformational states, making them difficult to target with standard methods.
Dr. Kamil Tamiola, physicist and Chief Executive Officer of Peptone, explained the significance of the partnership: "Our novel strategy to industrialize Peptone's proprietary ultra-fast Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry (HDX-MS) platform and Evotec's cutting-edge medicinal chemistry expertise is crucial for transforming our unique structural insights into viable therapeutic approaches."
The collaboration will focus on high-value IDP targets, including transcription factors, kinases, and other disordered proteins with strong biological and clinical therapeutic hypotheses. These targets have been historically challenging to drug but offer significant potential for addressing unmet medical needs.
Technological Innovation Driving Discovery
Peptone's bespoke HDX-MS platform provides a critical advantage in this partnership by revealing novel structural insights for dynamic, disordered proteins regardless of size or complexity. The technology identifies IDP pockets for targeting that have remained undetectable to traditional structural biochemistry methodologies and AI approaches.
This technological breakthrough allows researchers to visualize and target the transient structural elements that form within IDPs, opening new possibilities for drug design. By integrating these insights with Evotec's AI-powered platforms and advanced technologies, the collaboration seeks to eliminate traditional bottlenecks in early target selection.
The partnership will enable the rapid, scalable generation of tractable chemical matter designed to target a range of IDPs with Peptone-identified pockets. Selection of programs will focus on pockets that have been successfully drugged based on in vitro evidence of target modulation.
Expanding Therapeutic Horizons
Dr. Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: "We are thrilled to enter this partnership with Peptone as it unlocks the opportunity to advance novel therapies against previously intractable targets that are known to play important role(s) in cancer, autoimmunity, and beyond."
The integration of Evotec's comprehensive drug discovery platform with Peptone's technology for mapping intrinsically disordered proteins as druggable targets is expected to enable development of viable drug candidates with unprecedented speed and efficiency, without sacrificing quality.
Strategic Focus on Oncology and Immunology
While the partnership encompasses multiple therapeutic areas, Peptone has indicated that its initial focus will be on oncology targets in areas of highly unmet need with strong disease hypotheses and biological validation. This strategic focus aligns with growing evidence of IDPs' critical roles in cancer development and progression.
The collaboration represents a significant advancement in the field of drug discovery, potentially unlocking an entirely new class of therapeutic targets that have remained beyond the reach of conventional approaches. By combining Peptone's structural insights with Evotec's drug development expertise, the partnership aims to develop first-in-class therapeutics that could address significant unmet medical needs.
Accelerating the Path to Novel Therapeutics
The partnership is designed to accelerate Peptone's IDP target selection and validation processes for the development of novel therapeutic solutions. By harnessing Evotec's well-curated medicinal chemistry-ready libraries and drug discovery capability, the collaboration will enable rapid engagement of several high-value targets.
This approach represents a departure from traditional drug discovery methods, which often struggle with the dynamic nature of IDPs. The combined technologies of both companies create a platform capable of addressing the unique challenges posed by these proteins, potentially opening new avenues for treating diseases with limited therapeutic options.
As the collaboration progresses, the companies will work to translate their structural insights into viable drug candidates, with the ultimate goal of bringing innovative therapies to patients with significant unmet medical needs.
