Enodia lands $500M Pfizer deal to target proteins at the point of synthesis
Paris-based Enodia Therapeutics is entering a partnership with big pharma Pfizer to discover and develop small molecules for targeted protein degradation at the point of synthesis with a deal that could potentially bring more than $500 million (€446 million) to the biotech company.
Why it matters: The targeted protein degradation field is gaining momentum, and this Pfizer-Enodia collaboration offers another example of how large pharmaceutical companies are increasingly willing to place strategic bets on this emerging therapeutic category.
- Earlier this month, Eli Lilly also doubled its deal (first signed last year) with Gate Bioscience, a U.S.-based biotech that, similar to Enodia, targets the translocon Sec61 to stop protein formation before it can cause disease.
What they’re saying: “The growing industry interest in targeting proteins at the point of synthesis speaks to a broader shift in how we’re thinking about drug discovery,” said Enodia Chief Executive Officer Yves Ribeill in an interview with European Biotechnology.
The deal: Enodia receives from Pfizer an upfront payment to lead discovery activities against multiple collaboration targets (not disclosed). On its part, Pfizer will be responsible for everything that comes next, a.k.a., clinical, manufacturing, regulatory, and commercial activities. The agreement could be worth more than $500 million, including upfront payments, milestone-based payments, and royalties.
How it works: Enodia is developing machine learning-designed small molecules that selectively modulate the Sec61 translocon to inhibit disease-driving proteins at the point of synthesis, while preserving essential physiological functions. “Our approach blocks the protein from ever being produced as opposed to being degraded,” explained Ribeill. Its platform combines broad chemical and biological capabilities with proteomics, cryo-EM, and AI-enabled drug design.
Zoom in: Because of its intricate biology, the transmembrane protein complex Sec61 translocon was considered undruggable until recently, and now two of the world’s biggest pharmas are betting on it. Although both Gate and Enodia are working on similar types of targets, “what differentiates Enodia is the richness of its history,” said Ribeill. “The company has been built on the dual foundations of the laboratory of Caroline Demangel at the Pasteur Institute and the acquisition of Kezar Therapeutics’ Sec61 program assets, complete with nearly a decade of history in the Sec61 space.”
The big picture: In less than a year, Enodia has progressed from securing seed funding in January to acquiring assets in March and now landing a nine-figure partnership with big pharma, signaling growing momentum behind its platform and the broader therapeutic opportunities it could unlock. As Ribeill put it: “We see selective Sec61 modulation as a distinct therapeutic approach, with the potential to address new or undruggable targets.”
What’s next: Although the targets weren’t disclosed, Enodia says its proprietary platform has broad development opportunities across inflammation, immunology, and oncology, with additional potential applications in virology. Beyond the Pfizer deal, Enodia announced it will continue advancing a broader platform and pipeline strategy, creating opportunities for both partnered and wholly owned programs across multiple therapeutic areas.
