Drug discovery articles from across Nature Portfolio

The method uses ubiquitin biochemistry in vitro to achieve rapid and site-specific protein conjugation to generate homogeneous multimeric antibody conjugates. It addresses limitations of traditional conjugation methods, and it may aid the development of antibody therapies and vaccines.

Structural biology is crucial in understanding disease mechanisms and in driving drug and vaccine development—applications that are particularly relevant to Africa’s challenges—yet Africa faces significant barriers to advancing structural biology. Here, the authors outline a recent capacity building workshop run by BioStruct-Africa, focused on training of artificial intelligence tools such as AlphaFold, designed to foster a highly skilled community of structural biologists in Africa.

Biopharmaceutical manufacturing innovation is essential for making monoclonal antibodies affordable and accessible by overcoming critical cost and supply barriers. Importantly, innovation supporting regional production will be required to meet low- and middle-income country health needs and strengthen global resilience against future infectious disease outbreaks.

There has been a rapid growth in patents related to TROP2, a transmembrane glycoprotein involved in calcium signal transduction and an attractive target for cancer therapy.