Gate Bioscience is betting that a decades-old biological mechanism could pave the way for a new class of medicines. The biotech is developing small molecules that selectively block disease-causing proteins from passing through a cellular channel called Sec61, causing them to be degraded before they can do harm.
The approach could be particularly promising for diseases of the brain, where traditional biologics face significant delivery challenges. Gate's first publicly disclosed program targets prion disease, but the company sees opportunities across inflammation, fibrosis and other therapeutic areas.
In this episode of "The Top Line," Fierce Biotech's Marissa Russo sits down with Gate co-founder and CEO Jordi Mata-Fink, Ph.D., to discuss the science behind the technology, how an expanded partnership with Eli Lilly is helping advance the platform and what's next as Gate prepares to move its first molecular gate drugs into the clinic.