Congratulations! GeBo Biologicals has partnered with Sanofi to develop molecular glue degraders.

GluBio Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech company focused on developing innovative molecular glue degraders, announced today that it has secured a $30 million strategic equity investment from Sanofi. This funding will support the advancement of GluBio’s two core projects, GLB-005 and GLB-007, both of which aim to become disease-modifying therapies for sickle cell disease.

GluBio is a biotech company dedicated to discovering and developing novel molecular glue degraders to address unmet medical needs in the fields of genetic disorders, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. The company leverages its proprietary Glue Degrader Discovery (GDD) platform to drive systematic innovation. The investigational therapies, GLB-005, aim to selectively degrade the WIZ protein, while GLB-007 targets both WIZ and ZBTB7A proteins. By degrading these fetal hemoglobin suppressors, these candidates are expected to activate fetal hemoglobin expression, offering an oral disease-modifying treatment option for sickle cell disease patients.

Under the agreement, Sanofi has subscribed to newly issued preferred shares of GluBio. Additionally, GluBio granted Sanofi a right of first negotiation (ROFN) to conduct exclusive negotiations regarding potential research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization licenses for GLB-005 and GLB-007. The Phase 1 clinical trials for these products are expected to commence as early as the end of 2026.

Molecular Glue Degraders Show Promising Prospects, Integrated Platform Accelerates Drug Development

Molecular glue degraders are an emerging therapeutic strategy that mediates specific protein-protein interactions, providing a novel solution to target pathogenic proteins that are difficult to reach with traditional therapies.

As a key component of targeted protein degradation (TPD) therapies, molecular glue degraders can bind to E3 ubiquitin ligases, induce conformational changes, and enable recognition of new target proteins. Subsequently, the E3 ligase tags these proteins with ubiquitin, leading to their degradation. These molecules have the potential to effectively target traditionally “undruggable” proteins, modulate related signaling pathways through inhibition or activation, and open new avenues for treating various diseases. Public data indicates that dozens of molecular glue degraders are currently in clinical research worldwide, covering fields such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, and neurological disorders.

Despite the promising outlook, the discovery, development, and manufacturing of molecular glue degraders face numerous challenges. Unlocking their full therapeutic potential requires collaborative efforts within an innovative ecosystem. As a global enabler of pharmaceutical innovation, WuXi AppTec (603259) has deeply engaged in the entire process of translating TPD therapies, including molecular glues, from concept to industrialization. The company has not only witnessed rapid growth in the TPD field but also built an integrated, end-to-end CRDMO platform to continuously support global partners in drug discovery, development, and manufacturing.

In response to the emergence of novel degradation mechanisms such as molecular glue, protein degraders, and chimeric degraders, WuXi AppTec proactively developed supporting capabilities and technical platforms early on. It has established a comprehensive TPD enabling platform that integrates discovery, synthesis, analysis, purification, and testing, facilitating efficient progression of drug candidates from early discovery to clinical stages. As new targeted protein degradation technologies continue to emerge, WuXi AppTec remains at the forefront of scientific innovation, rapidly expanding its technical capabilities. Its current platform covers major molecular types including molecular glues, protein degraders, AUTAC, LYTAC, DUBTAC, RIBOTAC, PHICS, and DAC.

“GluoBio’s milestone achievement further confirms the enormous potential of protein degradation therapies like molecular glues in disease treatment, bringing new hope to patients,” said Dr. Fu Xiaoyong, Executive Vice President of WuXi AppTec and Head of Quanyao Pharmaceuticals. “As scientific innovation continues to benefit patients, WuXi AppTec will persist in leveraging its integrated, end-to-end CRDMO platform to work closely with global partners, accelerating the R&D and manufacturing of innovative drugs, including molecular glues, and helping scientific breakthroughs reach patients worldwide sooner.”