Proxygen and EPFL Launch Strategic Collaboration to Advance AI-Driven Glue Discovery
Proxygen, a global leader in the discovery and development of molecular glue degraders, today announced a strategic research collaboration with EPFL (the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne). The partnership combines Proxygen’s validated glue degrader discovery platform with the pioneering work of Professor Bruno Correia, whose lab at EPFL is leading the field in applying AI and structural modeling to protein design and therapeutic discovery.
The collaboration aims to build a next-generation discovery paradigm that bridges high-throughput in vitro screening with state-of-the-art in silico design. Together, the teams will develop new ways to systematically predict and validate neosubstrate-ligase interactions and design chemical matter capable of inducing targeted protein degradation. This integrated approach builds on the strength of Proxygen’s established discovery platform and is expected to further accelerate and expand glue degrader development with greater precision and scale across a broad target landscape.
“This partnership gives us the chance to translate cutting-edge academic tools into real-world therapeutic innovation,” said Professor Bruno Correia. “Proxygen’s deep scientific roots make it natural to collaborate as equals - there is a strong mutual understanding that allows us to explore complex questions and unlock entirely new opportunities in degrader design.”
“Bringing together Professor Correia’s world-class in silico approaches with our validated glue discovery engine opens a new chapter in rational degrader discovery,” said Matthias Brand, CTO of Proxygen. “Bruno is one of the most influential minds in computational protein design, and his lab’s methods are a perfect complement to our platform. This collaboration is not only a technological milestone but it also significantly expands our discovery reach and accelerates our ability to generate high-quality development candidates across previously inaccessible target space.”
Bernd Boidol, CEO of Proxygen, added: “We have built world-class capabilities in screening for glue degraders in vitro. With this collaboration, Proxygen is extending its leadership into the computational space as well. Our approach is already validated through partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies. With a highly productive platform and a pipeline of assets approaching the clinic, we are entering a new phase of scientific and strategic momentum.”
This collaboration builds on Proxygen’s strong academic foundation. The company was founded by leading scientists in the molecular glue degrader field and maintains a deep commitment to scientific partnerships. With a belief that breakthrough innovation emerges at the interface of academic and industry-driven research, Proxygen actively seeks collaborations with academic groups like Professor Correia’s, whose pioneering work continues to advance the frontiers of computational design in drug discovery.