Post #2476839
2026-05-10 12:27 UTC
First PROTAC wins FDA approval. This one targets certain metastatic breast cancers.
This is the first of a totally new type of drug that is set to revolutionize drug development.
The story of PROTACs is fascinating and a testament to fundamental research.
It starts with two lines of research including research one why thalidomide causes birth defects the other on how to harness cellular machinery for therapeutics.
1/🧵
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41573-026-00078-6
Replies (3)
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@MCDuncanLab@mstdn.social 2026-05-10 12:44
You may recall the thalidomide tragedy, a wonder drug for severe morning sickness that caused some babies to be born with severely shortened limbs. The drug was later repurposed as an anticancer drug, but the question remained why does it cause birth defects and why is it effective as an anti cancer drug. Decades of research went into answering that question. In 2010, a paper authored by Takumi Ito Hideki Ando and others working with Hiroshi Handa revealed the target of thalidomide. 2/🧵
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@Szescstopni@circumstances.run 2026-05-10 12:33
@MCDuncanLab@mstdn.social Great news. Paywalled, but Wikipedia helped (except for the thalidomide link). And I'll have to make a minor edit there :)
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@dch@bsd.network 2026-05-10 13:12
@MCDuncanLab@mstdn.social thanks for this thread!