Targeted protein degradation as an antiviral approach

Abstract

Targeted protein degradation (TPD) has emerged as a new modality in drug discovery. In this approach, small molecules are used to drive degradation of the target protein of interest. Whereas most direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) inhibit or derange the activity of their viral protein targets and have occupancy-driven pharmacology, small molecules with a TPD-based mechanism have event-driven pharmacology exerted through their ability to induce target degradation. These contrasting mechanisms can result in significant differences in drug efficacy and pharmacodynamics that may be useful in the development of new classes of antivirals. While now being widely pursued in cancer biology and autoimmune disease, TPD has not yet been widely applied as an antiviral strategy. Here, we briefly review TPD pharmacology along with the current status of tools available for developing small molecules that achieve antiviral activity through a TPD mechanism. We also highlight aspects of TPD that may be especially useful in the development of antivirals and that we hope will motivate pursuit of TPD-based antivirals by the antivirals research community.