Captor Therapeutics
Targeted protein degradation · HCC, autoimmune
Overview
Targeted protein degradation — molecular glues and degraders via its Optigrade platform. Lead candidates moving into the clinic; degrader-discovery collaboration with Sosei Heptares.
What they do
Captor Therapeutics, based in Wrocław and listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, specializes in targeted protein degradation (TPD). Its proprietary Optigrade discovery platform integrates protein engineering, structural biology, molecular modeling, CRISPR-based target validation and proteomics to design molecular glues and bifunctional degraders against targets considered hard to drug with conventional inhibitors.
Lead program & status
Captor's most advanced program is CT-01, a degrader for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) reported to remove the GSPT1 and NEK7 proteins. In May 2025 the company announced the start of an open-label, dose-escalating Phase I clinical trial across European clinics in Spain, Germany and France, with the first patient dosed at the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer center. Behind it sits CT-03 (CT-03p), an MCL-1 degrader for hematological malignancies showing synergy with BCL-2 inhibitors in preclinical work, with updated data slated for the ASH annual meeting in December 2025. Captor has also pursued degrader-discovery collaborations with partners including Sosei Heptares and continues to advance additional oncology and autoimmune programs.
Why it matters
TPD is one of the most competitive frontiers in drug discovery. Captor moving an in-house degrader from its Optigrade platform into human trials makes it one of the few European protein-degradation companies with a clinical-stage asset.
FAQ
- What is the Optigrade platform?
- Optigrade is Captor's proprietary discovery engine for targeted protein degradation, combining structural biology, modeling, CRISPR validation and proteomics to design molecular glues and bifunctional degraders.
- What is CT-01?
- CT-01 is Captor's lead candidate, a protein degrader for hepatocellular carcinoma that reportedly degrades GSPT1 and NEK7; its Phase I trial began in Europe in 2025.
- Does Captor have partnerships?
- Yes. Captor has pursued degrader-discovery collaborations with partners including Sosei Heptares while advancing its own clinical and preclinical pipeline.
Technology
Captor Therapeutics works in Targeted Protein Degradation — Don't block the bad protein — tag it for the cell's own shredder.
Read the Targeted Protein Degradation brief →Company website / source ↗ Open the interactive map →
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