With a substantial $16 million investment, General Proximity is pioneering 'induced proximity' medicines that aim to target previously undruggable proteins and enzymes linked to various diseases.

General Proximity has developed a platform that maps drug targets to specific proximity mechanisms, enabling the design of small molecule drugs that interact effectively with these targets.

General Proximity is at the forefront of drug development, leveraging the concept of the 'effectome,' which encompasses the set of proteins in cells that regulate other proteins through proximity.

Dr. Armand Cognetta, the founder and CEO of General Proximity, highlights that proximity serves as a fundamental regulator of biological interactions and processes.

The company's focus is on creating therapeutic 'proximity events' that drive chemical reactions, particularly in the fields of oncology, neurodegeneration, and longevity.

Their research also shows promise for longevity applications, especially in addressing proteostasis and modulating transcription factors, which have traditionally been difficult to target with drugs.

Cognetta believes that small molecule proximity drugs could revolutionize the treatment of aging-related diseases by effectively controlling key biological processes.

Cognetta acknowledges the significant challenges in drug discovery, particularly in identifying effective drug targets and developing drugs that can modulate these targets.

Currently, the company is optimizing a drug based on a major discovery made using their platform, with plans to move it into clinical trials soon.

An example of a proximity drug is rapamycin, which induces specific protein interactions to promote autophagy.