The current bottleneck in drug discovery is the challenge of targeting 80% of the human proteome once considered undruggable. Molecular glues are small molecules that induce non-native interactions between proteins, enabling the modulation of key cellular processes such as protein degradation, inhibition, activation, and stabilisation. Despite their immense therapeutic potential, molecular glue discovery has largely been serendipitous.

At A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), we use DNA-encoded library screening to systematically discover new molecular glues. Our research aims to harness their potential to overcome drug resistance, inhibit previously intractable protein-protein interactions, stabilise proteins, and modulate post-translational modifications. By bridging the gap between biological discoveries and drug development, we advance chemical biology to deepen our understanding of fundamental biological processes, and drive promising hits and leads towards preclinical and clinical candidates.