October 22-23, 2024, the TPD2024 Targeted Protein Degradation Drug Development Forum was successfully held in Shanghai. At this event, Dr. Zhou Xinglu, CEO of HealZen Therapeutics, presented a keynote speech titled "DaTProD^®: A Platform for Targeted Protein Degradation Drug Development and Case Studies."

Dr. Zhou reflected on the historical background and development journey of targeted protein degradation technology, emphasizing its potential to provide new solutions for "undruggable" targets and to open new avenues for overcoming drug resistance. She highlighted that the DaTProD^®platform, through precise molecular design and optimization, can efficiently develop the degraders with good druggability.

Dr. Zhou also shared insights on the BTK degrader HZ-Q1070, demonstrating its potential to become a Best-In-Class candidate through the compound's antitumor effects and safety profile. Another novel research project is focused on a degrader targeting the key immune modulatory protein HPK1, which is expected to offer new treatment options for immune-related diseases.

Furthermore, regarding to the future prospects of PROTAC technology, Dr. Zhou mentioned that the company has established a series of pipeline products based on platform technology and is also exploring a new technological field—DAC. By combining PROTAC molecules with antibody-drug conjugate technology, DAC aims to complement the shortcomings of both technologies and maximize their advantages, providing new treatment options for patients.

In conclusion, she emphasized that drug development is a systematic project requiring the joint efforts of different functions including science, medicine, regulation etc. She believes that with continuous technological advancements and deepening cooperation, Chinese enterprises will achieve more breakthroughs in this field. Dr. Zhou's speech was highly praised by attending experts and industry peers.