RDP Pharma  AG, a Swiss biotechnology company focused on next-generation protein degradation  therapeutics, and the Experimental Drug Development Centre (EDDC), Singapore’s  national platform for drug discovery and development hosted by the Agency for  Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR),  announced a strategic research  collaboration to jointly discover and develop monovalent targeted protein degraders as  potential new therapeutic options for patients with chronic and debilitating autoimmune  diseases. 

Epidemiological studies have shown that the global incidence and prevalence of  autoimmune diseases are rising, with some estimates suggesting annual increases of  19.1% and 12.5%, respectively. The number of incident cases of immune-mediated  inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and  inflammatory bowel disease has grown worldwide. Despite advances in autoimmune  disease therapies, there remains a need for treatments with fewer side effects, better or more sustained efficacy, and options for patients who do not respond to existing  treatments. 

RDP Pharma and EDDC are partnering to address this by combining RDP Pharma’s proprietary PromptDegrader™ platform and expertise in rational protein degrader  design with EDDC’s integrated capabilities in target biology, drug discovery, and  translational research. The partnership aims to develop an oral therapeutic that  selectively degrades a key driver of dysfunctional immune responses in autoimmune  diseases. 

“This collaboration leverages the unique strengths of both organisations,” said Dr  Markus Muellner, Chief Technology Officer of RDP Pharma AG. “Our platform enables  rational design of precision degraders against hard-to-drug targets, and EDDC’s deep  expertise in target biology and translational research provides the ideal framework to  accelerate development. Together, we aim to unlock new therapeutic avenues in  inflammatory diseases where current treatments fall short.” 

"This partnership with RDP Pharma exemplifies our commitment to pioneering novel  therapeutic approaches,” said Prof Damian O’Connell, Chief Executive Officer of  EDDC. “It also builds on our ongoing efforts to strengthen capabilities in monovalent  small molecule degrader development. By combining EDDC’s expertise in drug  discovery with RDP Pharma’s innovative degrader platform, we aim to accelerate the  development of new treatments—creating a transformative impact for patients with  chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. It also reinforces our broader mission to collaborate with innovative biotech firms and strengthen Singapore’s drug discovery  ecosystem.”