DNA- and RNA-Targeting Drugs

Our oligo-targeted discovery and development strategy

The development of novel therapeutics that directly target DNA and RNA species has continued to attract significant research interest. These strategies offer a powerful point of intervention, especially for otherwise ‘undruggable’ targets. At Momentum, we offer an established screening workflow for the identification of DNA- and RNA-targeting small molecules, as well as a portfolio of follow-up services to promote the further development and characterization of these therapeutics.

First, ASMS screening is used to identify ligands that bind a target of interest; this label-free high-throughput screening approach is fully compatible with oligo and oligo:protein targets. These hits can be modified to generate covalent compounds, whose site-specific activity can be validated with our adduct mapping workflows. Finally, our proteomic and chemoproteomic services can further probe the activity and downstream effects of these therapeutics. Several of these services can also provide valuable information prior to screening, helping to identify targets that are well-suited for this modality.