# c-Myc antagonist

> A lead optimization program developing an antagonist of the intrinsically disordered transcription factor c-Myc, advanced with UCL Cancer Institute disease biology.

[View this page on Peptone](https://peptone.io/pipeline/cmyc/)

## Program facts

- Target: c-Myc
- Modality: Small molecule
- Indication: MYC-driven solid tumors
- Stage: Lead Optimization

## Target

c-Myc is a transcription factor that is disordered outside of its complex with MAX and is deregulated across a broad range of cancers. Direct pharmacological control of c-Myc has been considered undruggable because it presents no classical binding pocket.

## Approach

Peptone applies its Product Engine to characterise the conformational ensemble of c-Myc and to search for binders that disrupt its productive interactions. This extends the same disorder-first discovery work beyond aggregation targets into transcriptional biology.

## Preclinical

Lead optimization work focuses on improving the emerging chemical series against defined disordered regions. Mechanism-of-action studies are advanced with Prof. Marc Mansour at UCL Cancer Institute in MYC-driven leukaemia and transcriptional models.

## Development Plan

The program is in lead optimization, where chemical series are pressure-tested in disease models to support later candidate selection.

Peptone's c-Myc antagonist program is advanced with UCL Cancer Institute and
Prof. Marc Mansour. See Partnering and Collaborations on the pipeline page for
detail.