Molecular glues are fundamentally changing the way drug hunters think about targets once considered undruggable. Realizing the full potential of this mechanism, however, requires new strategies for the prospective discovery of molecular glues tailored to specific protein-protein interactions.

In this Flash Talk, Michelle Arkin, Executive Director of the Small Molecule Discovery Center and Vice Dean of Research, Technology and Entrepreneurship in the School of Pharmacy at UCSF, will present a systematic approach to molecular glue discovery developed in collaboration with the Brunsveld and Ottmann labs. Focusing on disease-relevant proteins that engage the phosphoprotein-binding chaperone 14-3-3, she will discuss the use of reversible covalent fragment libraries to identify cooperative binders and the application of structure-guided design to merge, link, and optimize these fragments into cell-active compounds. The presentation will highlight emerging technologies and key principles for the rational design of molecular glues for both native and neomorphic protein complexes.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction
07:27 Full Text Search
09:20 Presentation
46:00 Q&A

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Recorded on April 2nd, 2026, as a Drug Hunter Flash Talk.

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