WuXi AppTec Spearheads Advancement in Targeted Protein Degradation

Shanghai, China Sep 28, 2025  – Imagine a medication that not only deactivates harmful proteins but eradicates them completely, offering a new approach to diseases once considered untreatable. This potential defines targeted protein degradation (TPD) therapy, a revolutionary technology generating significant excitement in the medical field. WuXi AppTec, a global CRDMO platform, has cultivated its expertise and service framework from the outset of this technology, supporting scientists in transforming ambitious ideas into tangible therapies. By effectively addressing some of the most complex obstacles, WuXi AppTec empowers its clients to deliver these innovative treatments to patients. Let’s explore their significant advancements in the TPD landscape.

The Promise and Challenges of Targeted Protein Degradation Therapy 

TPD therapies aim to overcome key limitations of conventional small molecule drugs by utilizing the body’s natural ubiquitin-proteasome system to fully degrade disease-causing proteins.

TPD’s groundbreaking aspect lies in its capacity to target more than 85% of “undruggable” proteins—those lacking binding sites for traditional drugs—thereby offering new hope for conditions such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Nevertheless, significant challenges persist. PROTACs®, as large bifunctional molecules, demand highly specific dual-target recognition, intricate linker synthesis, and improved drug-like properties such as solubility and bioavailability. Overcoming these hurdles necessitates exceptional expertise and innovative solutions to translate laboratory discoveries into effective treatments. 

WuXi AppTec’s Role in Accelerating TPD Development 

Leveraging its robust capabilities and specialized TPD platform as a globally recognized Contract Research, Development, and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO), WuXi AppTec is well-equipped to address these complexities. With operations across Asia, Europe, and North America, the company collaborates with nearly 6,000 partners in over 30 countries, driven by a vision to enable the creation of “every drug” and the treatment of “every disease.” Its comprehensive, integrated services, spanning from drug discovery to clinical trials, expedite TPD development with precision.

The TPD platform is engineered to manage the intricate nature of protein degraders throughout the full TPD functional cycle, encompassing molecule design, validation of complex formation, and optimization of ubiquitination and degradation.

WuXi AppTec boasts a team of over 1,000 chemists specializing in linker and E3 ligase ligand synthesis, supported by cutting-edge technologies such as native mass spectrometry for verifying ternary complex formation. The company’s internal, readily-available screening libraries and PK/PD analysis streamline the journey from hit discovery to clinical candidates, making it both swift and economical. Advanced screening methodologies, including DNA-encoded libraries (DEL) and one-bead-one-compound (OBOC) DEL, facilitate the rapid identification of PROTAC® candidates. WuXi AppTec thus accelerates the identification and refinement of effective PROTAC® molecules. Transforming a promising hit into a viable therapeutic demands systematic and integrated subsequent development. WuXi AppTec’s extensive research infrastructure is capable of confirming protein complex formation and target degradation, while specialized chemists, DMPK, and formulation teams address critical issues like solubility, absorption, and metabolic stability—thereby enhancing drug-like attributes and speeding up progression towards clinical trials.

WuXi AppTec’s Impact in TPD Projects 

Since establishing its targeted protein degradation services in 2016, WuXi AppTec has forged partnerships with over 150 companies, representing two-thirds of all global TPD developers. The company has successfully synthesized more than 188,000 highly complex TPD molecules; from these, over 70 have progressed to preclinical candidate status, and more than 10 have entered late-stage development. WuXi AppTec has consistently been at the forefront, ensuring comprehensive support for every organization in this domain through collaborative efforts.

With its global reach, underpinned by forward-thinking ideas and open innovation, WuXi AppTec empowers clients to accelerate the development of TPD therapeutics, thereby offering renewed hope to patients battling challenging-to-treat conditions.