The field of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs) is rapidly reshaping our understanding of biology, protein science and drug discovery. Once considered too complex to target, these dynamic proteins are now at the forefront of cutting-edge biomedical research and therapeutic innovation.

At the center of this shift is Nuage Therapeutics. Our proprietary technology enables the targeting of transient, druggable IDP states, allowing the design of compounds capable of interacting with them and modulating their activity. This pioneering approach to drug discovery transforms protein disorder, traditionally considered a limitation, into a new therapeutic opportunity for diseases in which protein disorder plays a key role and treatment options remain limited. It is particularly promising in therapeutic areas such as oncology, neurodegenerative diseases, and other complex disorders.

A Strong Scientific Foundation

Nuage’s scientific foundation is reinforced by a growing number of influential scientific publications. The latest being an article published in Science Advances by our co-founders Xavier Salvatella and Denes Hnisz, together with their teams at IRB and Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics (MPI-MG).

In this publication, the authors challenge the long-standing view that IDPs are entirely disordered. Instead, they demonstrate that IDPs can transiently assemble into small complexes, known as protein oligomers, where they adopt more organised structures.

These transient conformations create druggable windows of opportunity. The authors show how an experimental compound can selectively bind to these states, effectively blocking protein function.

This discovery provides strong scientific validation for Nuage’s platform and reinforces the feasibility of targeting IDPs with precision-designed molecules

Keeping momentum: Gordon Research Conference on IDPs

At this pivotal moment, The Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Intrinsically Disordered Proteins, chaired by our co-founder Xavier Salvatella and in which Nuage Tx is a contributor, plays an essential role in shaping the field.

Taking place between June 21-26, 2026 in Switzerland, the conference provides an opportunity to bring together the global IDP community to present and discuss cutting-edge research.

Looking ahead

As the scientific understanding of intrinsically disordered proteins continues to rapidly evolve, Nuage Therapeutics is uniquely positioned at the forefront of this transformation. By unlocking the therapeutic potential of protein disorder, Nuage Tx is opening new pathways for treating diseases with limited treatment options.

Nuage’s approach represents a paradigm shift in drug discovery, transforming protein disorder – long considered a limitation – into an opportunity.

As the scientific understanding of intrinsically disordered proteins continues to rapidly evolve, Nuage Therapeutics is uniquely positioned at the forefront of this transformation. By unlocking the therapeutic potential of protein disorder, Nuage Tx is opening new pathways for treating diseases with limited treatment options.

Nuage’s approach represents a paradigm shift in drug discovery, transforming protein disorder – long considered a limitation – into an opportunity.

The poster Biophysics-Enabled Discovery of Small Molecule Ligands for the Druggable States of the Intrinsically Disordered Oncogenic Driver ASCL1, was recognised for showcasing the critical role of biophysics in advancing drug discovery.

The work, presented by our CTO Mateusz Biesaga, highlights how Nuage Tx’s unique proprietary platform enables the study of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) when they transiently adopt higher-order conformations. Our cutting-edge platform enables access to these states, allowing the design of compounds that can bind and inhibit this class of proteins, traditionally considered undruggable.

This approach represents a paradigm shift in drug discovery, transforming protein disorder – traditionally seen as a limitation – into a therapeutic opportunity for cancer treatment. The results reinforce that IDPs can be drugged when probed with the right tools. 

At Nuage Tx, we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. We continue advancing our mission to develop a new generation of precision therapies for aggressive cancers with limited treatment options. Beyond oncology, our ambition is to become the leading company in the field of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs), extending the use of this technology to therapeutic areas in which protein disorder plays a key role and treatment options remain scarce.  

Olivier joined Nuage Therapeutics as Head of Drug Discovery. Prior to this, he served as Head of Medicinal Chemistry at Idorsia. Olivier brings extensive expertise in medicinal chemistry from his roles at both Idorsia and Actelion, with a particular focus on oncology and immunology. Over the course of his career, Olivier has contributed to the discovery of multiple drug candidates that have progressed into clinical development. 

Commenting on his appointment, Dr. Corminboeuf, new Head of Drug Discovery at Nuage Tx, said: “I’m thrilled to join Nuage Therapeutics at such an exciting moment. Nuage is pioneering a disruptive platform that redefines what’s possible in drug discovery—by turning intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), long considered ‘undruggable,’ into druggable therapeutic targets. This breakthrough opens entirely new avenues for precision medicine, and I look forward to helping advance Nuage’s pipeline to bring impactful therapies to patients.” 

Blandine Guimet stepped into the role of Head of People. Blandine has extensive expertise in Human Resources gained through operational and strategic roles within corporate and start-ups environments. In 2021, Blandine founded Start HR Consulting, a company that provides support to biotech companies with their HR needs through their early and growth phases. Blandine holds a MA in Human Resources Management and is certified in co-active coaching.  

As she joins the leadership team, Blandine shared: “It’s a real pleasure to be part of Nuage Therapeutics’ journey at such a key moment. I’m looking forward to helping build the foundations that will support our teams as we grow — through strong, scalable people practices and a culture where everyone feels empowered, supported, and inspired to do their best work.” 

Their leadership will be instrumental as we continue to grow, evolve and push boundaries – delivering a new wave of transformative therapies by unlocking the druggability of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). 

Welcome on board Olivier and Blandine! 

As part of joining AseBio, they have interviewed our CEO, Stuart Hughes. You can see the full interview below.

Nuage’s mission is to usher in a new wave of transformational precision therapies for aggressive cancers with limited treatment options. By pioneering a novel drug discovery approach, we directly target the oncogenic transcription factors that drive cancer progression, shutting down key disease pathways that have remained inaccessible to conventional drug discovery.

Nuage ultimately aims to become the preeminent company in the intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) target space, leveraging its technology beyond oncology into other therapeutic areas where protein disorder plays a key role and treatment options remain limited.

Nuage also brings together a highly skilled team of professionals with international experience gained at world-leading institutions and research centres. 


“We see AseBio as the go-to platform for fostering synergies within Spain’s biotech sector. It provides essential tools and activities to connect startups with investors and industry leaders, an invaluable resource and asset for a company like ours“

Stuart Hugues, CEO

One of our founding investors, Asabys, is a long-standing member of AseBio and they recommended that we join to enjoy the benefits of a country-wide network of like-minded companies and individuals. 

We see AseBio as the go-to platform for fostering synergies within Spain’s biotech sector. It provides essential tools and activities to connect startups with investors and industry leaders, an invaluable resource and asset for a company like ours.

We believe that being a member of AseBio will give us access to a strong network of key stakeholders within the Spanish biotech sector. It will also help us raise our profile in the industry through its activities while leveraging our interests within the different working groups. 

Participating in these working groups will also be of incredible value, as it enables us to help shape and influence the future of our sector in Spain. 

We are part of a fast-growing and dynamic ecosystem. However, securing sustainable funding across all stages of development can be challenging, especially for early-stage companies. It is therefore especially important to foster synergies between startups, investors, public funding agencies, and pharmaceutical companies in order to advance in this sector while making the best use of limited resources. 

You can also find the interview in Spanish on AseBio’s website.

The article highlights how Nuage is deploying a suite of proprietary biophysics tools that ‘capture’ intrinsically-disordered proteins in a secondary-structured form to address the challenge of therapeutically targeting a range of racer-driving transcription factors.

This approach has the potential to revolutionise the way that certain tumours are treated and usher in a new wave of transformational targeted cancer therapies.

Nuage Therapeutics is one of the three companies featured in the article, all headquartered at Parc Científic de Barcelona. The city is becoming one of the top areas for biotech research thanks to its well-connected ecosystem of top-tier hospitals, research institutes and global pharmaceutical companies.

You can read the full article here.

Nuage Therapeutics has been awarded a €352,874 Eurostars grant to accelerate the development of NT-A, a first-in-class covalent therapeutic candidate for the treatment of ASCL1-driven small cell lung cancer (SCLC-A). The project, entitled “Unlocking druggability of disordered proteins: NT-A, a first-in-class therapeutic for small cell lung cancer, and novel platforms to support the development of covalent drugs for disordered targets”, will run from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2027. 

Eurostars is a European research funding programme designed to support innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This funding will enable Nuage Tx to advance one of its most disruptive research areas: the development of therapies targeting Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs), a class of proteins that has historically been considered inaccessible to conventional drug discovery approaches. 

The main objectives of the project are: 

This new funding will enable Nuage Tx to advance key translational components of the program, including the establishment of a robust PK/PD framework for covalent IDP‑targeting molecules, the development and deployment of next‑generation chemoproteomic approaches to assess target engagement in biological systems, and the exploration of novel mechanisms that may enhance selectivity and safety.  

The Eurostars grant will enable Nuage Tx to continue demonstrating that its novel technology can unlock the druggability of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs), a class of proteins long considered “undraggable”. IDPs play a critical role in multiple diseases across different therapeutic areas, including oncology. Nuage’s proprietary technology makes these disordered proteins, which lack a stable shape, temporarily adopt a defined structure. As a result, researchers can design drugs capable of recognising and acting on them, something that was previously impossible. This breakthrough represents a significant shift in drug discovery, turning protein “disorder” into a therapeutic opportunity.   

Nuage’s groundbreaking approach is initially being deployed to target transcription factors that are key to the growth of specific cancers. With this new funding, Nuage Tx will continue advancing its innovative research, targeting oncogenic transcription factors that drive cancer progression while shutting down key disease pathways that have remained inaccessible to conventional drug discovery.   

Funding Acknowledgment

Funded by CDTI. This project has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. 

This project has received funding from the Eurostars-3 Programme, co-funded by CDTI and the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Framework Programme. 

Nuage Tx recibe una subvención Eurostars para desarrollar un inhibidor covalente pionero dirige al cáncer de pulmón microcítico impulsado por ASCL1 (SCLC-A)

Nuage Therapeutics ha sido seleccionada para recibir una subvención Eurostars de €352.874 para acelerar el desarrollo de NT-A, un candidato terapéutico covalente primero en su clase dirigido al tratamiento del cáncer de pulmón microcítico impulsado por ASCL1 (SCLC-A). El proyecto, titulado “Unlocking druggability of disordered proteins: NT-A, a first-in-class therapeutic for small cell lung cancer, and novel platforms to support the development of covalent drugs for disordered targets”, se desarrollará entre el 1 de abril de 2025 y el 31 de marzo de 2027. 

Eurostars es un programa europeo de financiación de la investigación dirigido a pequeñas y medianas empresas (pymes) innovadoras. La ayuda permitirá a Nuage Tx avanzar en una de sus áreas de investigación más disruptivas: el desarrollo de terapias dirigidas frente a proteínas intrínsecamente desordenadas (IDPs), una clase de proteínas que históricamente se ha considerado inaccesible para el desarrollo farmacológico convencional. 

Los principales objetivos del proyecto son: 

Esta nueva financiación permitirá a Nuage Tx avanzar en componentes translaciónales clave del programa, incluyendo el establecimiento de un sólido marco farmacocinético/farmacodinámico (PK/PD) para moléculas covalentes dirigidas a proteínas intrínsecamente desordenadas (IDPs), el desarrollo e implementación de enfoques quimioproteómicos de nueva generación para evaluar la interacción con la diana terapéutica en sistemas biológicos, y la exploración de nuevos mecanismos que puedan mejorar la selectividad y la seguridad de estos compuestos.

La subvención Eurostars permitirá a Nuage Tx seguir demostrando que su novedosa tecnología puede hacer accesibles al desarrollo farmacológico las proteínas intrínsecamente desordenadas (IDPs), una clase de proteínas que durante mucho tiempo se ha considerado “no farmacológicamente abordable” (undruggable). Las IDPs desempeñan un papel fundamental en múltiples enfermedades de distintas áreas terapéuticas, incluida la oncología. 

La tecnología propietaria de Nuage permite que estas proteínas desordenadas, que carecen de una estructura estable, adopten temporalmente una conformación definida. Gracias a ello, los investigadores pueden diseñar fármacos capaces de reconocerlas y actuar sobre ellas, algo que anteriormente era imposible. Este avance representa un cambio significativo en el descubrimiento de fármacos, al convertir el “desorden” proteico en una oportunidad terapéutica.

El enfoque innovador de Nuage se está aplicando inicialmente al desarrollo de terapias dirigidas contra factores de transcripción clave para el desarrollo de determinados tipos de cáncer. Con esta nueva financiación, Nuage Tx continuará impulsando su investigación pionera para abordar factores de transcripción oncogénicos que impulsan la progresión tumoral, bloqueando vías esenciales de la enfermedad que hasta ahora habían permanecido fuera del alcance de las estrategias convencionales de descubrimiento de fármacos.

Financiación

Subvencionado por el CDTI. Este proyecto ha sido apoyado por el Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades. 

Este proyecto ha recibido financiación del Programa Eurostars-3 con cofinanciación de CDTI y del Programa Marco de Investigación e Innovación «Horizonte Europa» de la Unión Europea