BioCentury
ARTICLE | Emerging Company Profile

Stapling β-catenin

FOG's stapled peptide could be the first β-catenin inhibitor to reach the clinic

May 31, 2017 11:34 PM UTC

Harvard University professor and serial entrepreneur Greg Verdine’s new start-up, FOG Pharmaceuticals Inc., is using his latest version of stapled peptide technology to block the notoriously undruggable protein, β-catenin, in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Stapled peptides are cell-permeable peptides containing a chemical bridge (the staple) that stabilizes the core α-helix, enhancing the binding affinity of the helix and preventing proteolytic degradation. A key advantage is their ability to enter cells and block protein-protein interactions that are otherwise difficult to drug. ...