Global Competition Aims to Transform Cancer Drug Discovery for TBXT Target
In a significant step toward combating cancer, the Chordoma Foundation has launched the TBXT Challenge, a global initiative designed to encourage drug discovery breakthroughs for the TBXT protein, often referred to as Brachyury. This protein is crucial in various cancer types, including breast, lung, colon, and prostate cancers, and is particularly relevant in chordoma, a rare and hard-to-treat bone cancer. What makes TBXT a unique target is its limited presence in normal cells, making it an attractive candidate for targeted cancer therapies.
Historically, TBXT has been included in the category of so-called 'undruggable' targets. This perception stems from the complexity of targeting transcription factors, a class of proteins that have been implicated in many diseases but remain extremely challenging to approach therapeutically. However, advancements in chemical biology, high-throughput screening methods, and artificial intelligence present a new opportunity to tackle these hard-to-reach proteins.
The TBXT Challenge aims to open up new avenues in the drug discovery landscape with a set prize pool exceeding $500,000, which is intended to reward significant milestones achieved during the research process. The first milestone includes a $500,000 prize for discovering compounds that can bind strongly to the TBXT protein. Two prize tiers exist: $250,000 for compounds with a dissociation constant (Kd) of less than 300 nM, and $100,000 for those with a Kd of less than 1 μM.
Participants, including companies and research institutions, can submit up to 96 compounds for free evaluation by the Chordoma Foundation's laboratory, CF Labs. Importantly, the results will be kept confidential, and competitors will maintain ownership of their intellectual property and data generated throughout the process. In addition to financial incentives, the Foundation provides scientific resources and access to preclinical and clinical research capabilities to aid in the development of successful compounds.
Josh Sommer, Executive Director of the Chordoma Foundation, emphasizes the potential impact of this challenge: "With the TBXT Challenge, we invite drug discovery innovators to partner with us to validate new approaches capable of achieving breakthroughs in drugging difficult targets like TBXT. We hope this will not only accelerate the discovery of urgently needed TBXT drugs but may also set a precedent for other targets currently deemed undruggable."
The TBXT Challenge is not just a single initiative but part of the Foundation's broader commitment to enhancing the lives of those afflicted by chordoma. By fostering innovation in drug discovery, the Foundation aims to bring effective treatments and potentially cures to patients who currently have few options.
To learn more about the TBXT Challenge and for participation details, interested parties can visit tbxtchallenge.org or contact the Foundation directly.
Historically, TBXT has been included in the category of so-called 'undruggable' targets. This perception stems from the complexity of targeting transcription factors, a class of proteins that have been implicated in many diseases but remain extremely challenging to approach therapeutically. However, advancements in chemical biology, high-throughput screening methods, and artificial intelligence present a new opportunity to tackle these hard-to-reach proteins.
The TBXT Challenge aims to open up new avenues in the drug discovery landscape with a set prize pool exceeding $500,000, which is intended to reward significant milestones achieved during the research process. The first milestone includes a $500,000 prize for discovering compounds that can bind strongly to the TBXT protein. Two prize tiers exist: $250,000 for compounds with a dissociation constant (Kd) of less than 300 nM, and $100,000 for those with a Kd of less than 1 μM.
Participants, including companies and research institutions, can submit up to 96 compounds for free evaluation by the Chordoma Foundation's laboratory, CF Labs. Importantly, the results will be kept confidential, and competitors will maintain ownership of their intellectual property and data generated throughout the process. In addition to financial incentives, the Foundation provides scientific resources and access to preclinical and clinical research capabilities to aid in the development of successful compounds.
Josh Sommer, Executive Director of the Chordoma Foundation, emphasizes the potential impact of this challenge: "With the TBXT Challenge, we invite drug discovery innovators to partner with us to validate new approaches capable of achieving breakthroughs in drugging difficult targets like TBXT. We hope this will not only accelerate the discovery of urgently needed TBXT drugs but may also set a precedent for other targets currently deemed undruggable."
The TBXT Challenge is not just a single initiative but part of the Foundation's broader commitment to enhancing the lives of those afflicted by chordoma. By fostering innovation in drug discovery, the Foundation aims to bring effective treatments and potentially cures to patients who currently have few options.
To learn more about the TBXT Challenge and for participation details, interested parties can visit tbxtchallenge.org or contact the Foundation directly.
Topics Health）
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