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Some of the most important drivers of disease have remained inaccessible to traditional approaches for far too long. We are determined to change that.
Proteins control how every human cell functions, grows and survives. When they malfunction or mutate, they can drive serious disease, making them critical targets in medicine.
For decades, therapies have depended on well-defined binding sites to engage target proteins and block their activity. Yet, many key drivers of disease lack these sites making it difficult for traditional medicines to bind to them - like locks without keyholes. Even when they can bind, target proteins can adapt and resist treatment.
At Astellas, we are pioneering innovative induced proximity approaches to overcome these barriers.
Astellas is advancing induced proximity to bring what is currently considered ‘undruggable’ within reach, expand what medicines can achieve and create new possibilities for patients who urgently need them.
Induced proximity brings together two molecules inside the cell that may not otherwise interact: a disease-driving target and a cellular mechanism that can act on it. Creating these new connections can help remove harmful proteins, regulate disease processes or reach vulnerabilities traditional treatments can’t reach.
Our strategy is to advance a differentiated induced proximity platform that matches the right mechanism to the right biology, creating multiple ways to address some of the hardest-to-treat cancers.
Our induced proximity capabilities include:
Within this broader platform, Astellas is pioneering targeted protein degradation (TPD), one of the most clinically advanced induced proximity approaches. Building on our oncology heritage, our priority is difficult-to-treat cancers, including gastrointestinal, genitourinary and lung cancers.
Our lead Induced Proximity asset setidegrasib was the first protein degrader to enter the clinic for mutated KRAS G12D. This marked an important milestone for KRAS G12D, one of the most prevalent cancer-driving KRAS mutations and one that currently lacks an approved mutation-specific targeted therapy. Phase 3 trials are underway investigating setidegrasib for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Beyond TPD, we are applying our expertise in proximity-based science to advance next-generation approaches, including proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs), molecular glues and regulated induced proximity targeting chimeras with the potential to transform patient care in the hardest-to-treat cancers.
Please view our pipeline for Induced Proximity below. You can also access the full Astellas pipeline page here.
Leading in this rapidly evolving field requires deep scientific expertise, differentiated capabilities and thoughtful collaboration.
That is why we are forging strategic partnerships that extend our strengths, broaden the disease biology we can address and accelerate scientific progress.
To learn more about how to collaborate with Astellas, please visit our Partnering page.
Astellas strives to match the best science and the best talent in order to deliver on our mission to turn innovative science into VALUE for patients. We encourage you to visit our Careers page to learn how you can join our work to turn innovative science into VALUE for patients.
