RyboDyn Unveils a Hidden Human Proteome and a New Universe of Actionable Cancer Targets
RyboDyn, Inc. has announced a significant advancement in proteogenomics, introducing its AI-assisted platform, RyboCypher™, which revealed the existence of previously unidentified proteins, including cYBX1, a cryptic isoform of the well-documented cancer driver YBX1. The company recently released a preprint titled "Discovery and Targeting of a Cryptic Human Proteome," highlighting a newly mapped layer of human biology rich in tumor-specific targets for cancer drug development.
RyboCypher™ provided insights into approximately 8.3 million "dark" RNA isoforms, most of which were not present in existing databases. This research was based on an extensive analysis of mass spectra from 2,229 patient samples, confirming around 80,000 cryptic peptides, roughly 10,000 of which are prevalent in cases of cancer. The findings led to the establishment of CypherAtlas™, a database cataloging dark RNAs, their corresponding cryptic proteins, and associated patient information.
The study also emphasized the growing challenge in drug development, where the rate of genuinely novel targets entering the pipeline has declined, creating competition among numerous programs targeting the same well-characterized proteins. According to Corey Dambacher, Ph.D., President and co-founder of RyboDyn, the discovery of new biology is essential for generating new therapeutic strategies, and RyboCypher is designed to achieve this aim.
RyboDyn's discovery process begins with patient data to provide a more targeted approach to drug development. The company claims that its top-ranked candidate is significantly upregulated in a majority of lung squamous cell carcinoma patients, indicating a potential for high-value drug targets. The preprint also disclosed cYBX1, a new cancer-associated protein found at the YBX1 locus, which may offer new therapeutic opportunities for targeting this oncogenic driver.
Experts, including Gordon B. Mills, M.D., Ph.D., have expressed support for RyboDyn's research direction, indicating that it underscores the principles and validates the concepts the company is pursuing. The preprint, "Discovery and Targeting of a Cryptic Human Proteome," is accessible for review.