Gate Bioscience is a biotechnology company focused on developing a new class of medicines known as molecular gates. The company aims to create small molecule drugs that selectively eliminate harmful extracellular proteins at their origin within cells. By preventing these proteins from emerging and causing disease, Gate Bioscience seeks to address a wide range of medical conditions. This innovative approach is designed to provide new therapeutic options for patients.
The Science Behind Gate Bioscience
The scientific foundation of Gate Bioscience revolves around the concept of “molecular gates,” which target the secretory pathway within cells. Extracellular proteins, those that function outside the cell, must first cross a membrane from inside the cell to the outside. This journey occurs through a single channel known as the secretory translocon. The translocon is a complex of proteins that forms a pore through the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, allowing newly synthesized proteins to pass through to the secretory pathway.
The significance of this biological “gate” lies in its role as the sole exit point for many proteins that, if misfolded, overproduced, or otherwise aberrant, can cause disease once outside the cell. Over 1,000 extracellular proteins have been linked to various diseases. By targeting this specific cellular gateway, Gate Bioscience aims to intercept and eliminate these problematic proteins before they can exert their harmful effects.
Mechanism of Action
Gate Bioscience’s specific technology involves small molecule drugs designed to interact directly with the secretory translocon. These “molecular gates” bind to the translocon and establish a selective barrier. This barrier recognizes and blocks the passage of a specific, disease-causing protein, preventing it from crossing the membrane and being secreted from the cell.
When a targeted protein is blocked, it is then degraded by the cell’s natural processes instead of being released into the body. This precise mechanism allows other non-targeted proteins to move through the translocon channel without interference. The company leverages a Molecular Gate Discovery Platform, which combines a specialized library of molecular gates with bespoke secretion-focused assays and technologies. This platform facilitates precise, rapid, and repeatable drug discovery, enabling the identification of small molecules that can effectively eliminate specific “difficult-to-drug” proteins.
Therapeutic Areas and Impact
Gate Bioscience aims to address various diseases by eliminating the problematic proteins at their source. This approach holds potential for diseases that currently have limited treatment options or significant unmet medical needs.
This could lead to improvements in treatment efficacy and offer new therapeutic possibilities. The company’s strategy may also be amenable to developing orally delivered drugs and treatments capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier, which could expand therapeutic options for neurological conditions. Gate Bioscience’s collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company further underscores the potential impact of their molecular gate therapeutics in addressing diseases of high unmet medical need.