‘Molecular glue’ from this San Diego startup makes cancer self-destruct; Big Pharma bets billions – San Diego Union-Tribune
This local biotech says it has found a way to trick cancer cells into destroying themselves with its molecular glue.
Now it’s putting that claim to the test.
After attracting global attention from researchers and billions of dollars from Big Pharma, Neomorph announced Tuesday that it has begun its first clinical trial. The molecular glue aims to treat a form of kidney cancer.
The first trial will dose one patient with the molecular glue, NEO-811, to treat clear renal cell carcinoma, the most common kind of kidney cancer.
In San Diego County, roughly 500 people are diagnosed with kidney cancer each year — that’s more than one new case every day, according to the California Cancer Registry. Among residents 65 and older, the rate jumps to more than four times higher than the overall population: 2,000 San Diegan’s over 65 are diagnosed with a form of kidney cancer each year.
While other oncology treatments, such as chemotherapy, indiscriminately damage cells, Neomorph’s glue redirects the body to dispose of harmful proteins by labeling them as “trash,” so enzymes will throw them away.
“It’s the dream of every discovery scientist to have a molecule that progresses into the clinic,” said Dr. Phil Chamberlain, CEO and founder of Neomorph. Chamberlain is renowned in the community for pioneering molecular glue degraders.
science
In the human body, proteins are the “workers” that carry out essential tasks, such as carrying oxygen, repairing DNA, dividing or degrading. Every second, hundreds of thousands of proteins come into contact; some bind together, while others pass by without reacting.
Neomorph’s approach aims to control these interactions to treat solid tumors with its molecular glue.
“The incredible thing about glues is they have no respect for normal limits,” Chamberlain said, explaining how the molecular glue can bind to various proteins and, in theory, attract enzymes that trigger a destructive biological response.
“The issue is that nobody knows exactly where they will and won’t work,” he said. But he is starting to find out with Neomorph’s first clinical study.
He chose to focus on clear cell renal cell carcinoma because it exemplifies the glue’s potential. “There are lots of cases of it in the US, and most of the patients have a particular mutation. So it’s a large population, but it’s also a precision medicine,” he said.
Neomorph is looking to expand its glue degrader research into other solid tumors, although Chamberlain did not name specific cancers.
The billion-dollar glue club
Even before Neomorph started clinical trials, Big Pharma bought in.
Since its founding in 2020, Neomorph has inked nearly $5 billion worth of deals with pharmaceutical companies.
Last year, Neomorph signed a $1.6 billion deal with AbbVie for an option to license its glue. In 2024, Novo Nordisk signed a $1.46 billion deal with Neomorph. Biogen also signed a $1.45 billion deal with the San Diego company in 2024.
Neomorph’s strategy has been to partner with pharmaceutical companies to advance distinct disease areas while building its “wholly owned pipeline,” financed through its sole investor, Deerfield Management Co.
“Protein degraders represent a groundbreaking advancement in the field of drug discovery, and at AbbVie, we are committed to advancing this technology forward,” said Steven Elmore, vice president of small molecule therapeutics and platform technologies at AbbVie.
Pharmaceutical companies that haven’t signed with Neomorph are investing in their own molecular glues. Late last year, Pfizer backed Boston-based Triana Biomedicines in a $120 million Series B funding round to bring its glue into the clinic.
Growing locally
Chamberlain said he expects results from the first trial within the next year. In the meantime, he is focusing on growing his team, which currently has 80 employees.
“We’ll be expanding our team within the San Diego area,” Chamberlain said. “It’s a world-famous biotech hub, and so it’s really the chance to work in a beautiful location but also not compromise your career.”
He said the company plans to hire in development and discovery.
“There’s wonderful talent in San Diego, and it’s usually not difficult to persuade people to move to San Diego, especially this time of year,” Chamberlain said.
