Progenra
Progenra is a privately held Malvern, PA-based biotechnology company founded in 2002 that develops small-molecule therapeutics leveraging the ubiquitin proteasome system through its UbiPro™ platform, targeting neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases via molecular glues and PROTACs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersMalvern, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Progenra does
Progenra Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company founded in 2002 and headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, that develops small-molecule therapeutics exploiting the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). Its proprietary UbiPro™ Drug Discovery Platform identifies novel modulators of protein regulatory targets and is complemented by internal target validation, cell-based proof-of-concept work, and medicinal chemistry. The company focuses on targeted protein degradation via Molecular Glues and PROTACs, with lead programs centered on first-in-class PINK1 and Parkin activators designed to restore mitochondrial function through mitophagy for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Supporting programs include deubiquitinase (USP7) inhibitors for immuno-oncology, the cardiovascular compound PR-364 for post-myocardial infarction remodeling, and proprietary phospho-ubiquitin ELISA biomarker assays that enable pharmacodynamic monitoring and patient stratification. Collaborative technologies include TUBE (Tandem Ubiquitin Binding Entities) reagents co-developed with LifeSensors for ubiquitin linkage analysis.
The pipeline remains preclinical; the company targets first-in-human studies in 2027. Progenra operates a partnership-driven business development model, distributing its assets through licensing and co-development agreements with pharmaceutical and biotechnology counterparties rather than direct commercialization. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the company is pre-revenue on commercial terms, having financed operations through approximately $175 million of cumulative capital and grant funding (notably a Michael J. Fox Foundation Therapeutic Pipeline Award in May 2020). Customer segments are horizontal B2B: pharma/biotech licensing partners for molecular glue and PROTAC assets, and academic institutions/CROs accessed through the Progenra Discovery Network for translational research. The company maintains an active scientific presence via peer-reviewed publications, industry conference presentations (Discovery on Target, Molecular Glue Drug Development Summit, TPD Europe Summit), and business development outreach, supported by a leadership team with NIH, GSK, and Wyeth pedigrees.
Progenra firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Progenra
- Legal name
- Progenra Inc.
- Website
- https://progenra.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Progenra is a privately held Malvern, PA-based biotechnology company founded in 2002 that develops small-molecule therapeutics leveraging the ubiquitin proteasome system through its UbiPro™ platform, targeting neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases via molecular glues and PROTACs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Progenra industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biotechnology Drug Discovery
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization) (HLAAAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Target Identification & Validation Platforms (omics-driven, chemoproteomics, genetic validation) (HLAAAIAI)
Keywords
Where Progenra is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Malvern
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Progenra business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Licensing and Partnership Agreements: Progenra generates revenue through licensing agreements with pharmaceutical and biotech companies for their small molecule portfolio assets including Molecular Glues and PROTAC molecules. The company seeks partnership, funding and investment opportunities from both small and large institutions.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Progenra product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Progenra is a biotechnology company that discovers and develops small-molecule therapeutics leveraging the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) through its proprietary UbiPro™ Drug Discovery Platform. The company's primary offerings are molecular glues and PROTAC® molecules targeting neurodegeneration (Parkinson's, Alzheimer's), cardiovascular disease, and oncology, with lead candidates including PINK1/Parkin activators and USP7 deubiquitinase inhibitors. Progenra monetizes these assets primarily through licensing and co-development agreements with pharmaceutical and biotech partners.
Product overview
Progenra is a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of medicine through Molecular Glues and targeted protein degradation. The company's core offering is the UbiPro™ Drug Discovery Platform, which leverages the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) to develop small molecule therapeutics. The product portfolio centers on PINK1 activators and Parkin activators (molecular glue drug candidates) for neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson's and Alzheimer's), with additional programs in cardiovascular disease. Supporting products include DUB inhibitors for cancer immunotherapy and phospho-ubiquitin biomarker assays for research and clinical development monitoring. PROTAC molecules and molecular glue compounds constitute the primary therapeutic modality.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- UbiPro™: Proprietary drug discovery platform that identifies novel modulators of protein regulatory targets for drug development, utilizing the ubiquitin proteasome system.
Products and services
- UbiPro™ Drug Discovery Platform Progenra's proprietary multi-faceted drug discovery platform based on the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) that identifies novel modulators of protein regulatory targets for drug development, complemented by internal target validation, cell proof of concept, and medicinal chemistry capabilities.
- Molecular Glues Small molecules that induce proximity or stabilize protein-protein interactions between an E3 ubiquitin ligase and a target protein, leading to selective degradation of target proteins via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Licensed to pharmaceutical and biotech partners.
- PROTAC® Molecules Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) that work by degrading target proteins in the human body through targeted protein degradation (TPD) mechanisms, developed using the UbiPro platform.
- PINK1 Activators Small-molecule PINK1 activators that restore mitochondrial function by promoting mitophagy and removing toxic protein aggregates for treatment of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases; demonstrated nanomolar potency in preclinical models and ability to reactivate pathogenic loss-of-function PINK1 mutations.
- Parkin Activators Novel Parkin activator small molecules in preclinical development for treatment of Parkinson's disease, with chemical optimization and preclinical activities supported by Michael J. Fox Foundation funding.
- DUB Inhibitors (Deubiquitinase Inhibitors) Active site-targeted covalent irreversible inhibitors of deubiquitinating enzymes, particularly USP7, developed as potential cancer immunotherapy and anti-cancer agents with dual antitumor and immunomodulatory properties.
- Phospho-Ubiquitin Biomarker Assays ELISA-based assays to detect phospho-ubiquitin and ubiquitination of outer mitochondrial membrane proteins, developed as pharmacodynamic biomarkers for mitochondrial dysfunction and PINK1/Parkin pathway activation. Used in preclinical and clinical development monitoring.
- PR-364 PINK1/Parkin activator compound demonstrated in published research to enhance Parkin-mediated mitophagy and mitigate adverse left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction, positioned for cardiovascular disease indications.
Quantifiable outcome
- PINK1 activator drug candidates demonstrate nanomolar potency in promoting mitophagy
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Progenra
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Progenra technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Progenra partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, supporting and advisory.
- LifeSensors, Inc.strategicCollaborative research partnership for development of TUBE (Tandem Ubiquitin Binding Entities) technology enabling rapid discovery of PROTACs and Molecular glue drugs. Joint publication in Scientific Reports demonstrating application of TUBE technology for monitoring ubiquitin chain linkages involved in cancer and inflammatory signaling.
- Progenra Discovery Network (CROs and Academic Partners)supportingNetwork of Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and academic experts established through partnerships to enhance Progenra's development offerings to industry partners. The company has collaborations with several leading national and international academic institutions for translational research.
- Dr. Wayne Hancock (University of Pennsylvania)advisoryDr. Wayne Hancock, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, joined Progenra's Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Hancock is a world-renowned expert in immunology, inflammation, and mechanisms of disease pathologies, providing guidance on the immuno-oncology drug development program.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Progenra competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Amphista Therapeutics: Emerging TPD company developing bifunctional degraders with novel E3 ligase recruitment, overlapping with Progenra's molecular glue/PROTAC modality.
- BioTheryX: Focused on targeted protein degradation and small-molecule modulators of E3 ligases, including molecular glues and PHM-based degraders — adjacent TPD platform peer.
- Foghorn Therapeutics: Develops medicines targeting chromatin regulation using protein degradation and other mechanisms; comparable emerging platform approach to Progenra's UPS-based discovery engine.
Direct peers
- Arvinas: Clinical-stage pioneer of PROTAC-based targeted protein degradation with a focus on oncology and neuroscience, the most established publicly traded peer in the TPD space against which Progenra's platform competes.
- Nurix Therapeutics: Develops targeted protein modulation drugs including both degraders (PROTACs/molecular glues) and stabilizer ligands targeting E3 ligases and DUBs — a strong analog to Progenra's UPS-based discovery model.
- Kymera Therapeutics: Clinical-stage developer of heterobifunctional degrader (PROTAC) and molecular glue drugs leveraging the ubiquitin-proteasome system, directly comparable to Progenra's UbiPro platform approach.
- Mission Therapeutics: Develops small-molecule inhibitors of deubiquitinases (DUBs) including USP30 for mitochondrial disease and Parkinson's — closely comparable to Progenra's USP7/DUB and PINK1/Parkin programs.
- Monte Rosa Therapeutics: Focused on developing molecular glue degraders, with a pipeline spanning oncology and immune-driven diseases; directly comparable to Progenra's molecular glue modality.
- C4 Therapeutics: Clinical-stage TPD company developing bifunctional degraders (DCAF15-based molecular glues and PROTACs) against oncology targets, with similar platform economics to Progenra.
Broad incumbents
- Neuroscience-focused pharma (e.g., Denali Therapeutics): Larger, well-capitalized clinical-stage neuroscience biotech developing disease-modifying therapies for Parkinson's and other neurodegeneration, representing the type of strategic partner/acquirer Progenra targets.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Progenra social profiles
Digital presenceProgenra financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Progenra leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Progenra funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Progenra M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Progenra
What does Progenra do?
Progenra is a biotechnology company that discovers and develops small-molecule therapeutics leveraging the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) through its proprietary UbiPro™ Drug Discovery Platform. The company's primary offerings are molecular glues and PROTAC® molecules targeting neurodegeneration (Parkinson's, Alzheimer's), cardiovascular disease, and oncology, with lead candidates including PINK1/Parkin activators and USP7 deubiquitinase inhibitors. Progenra monetizes these assets primarily through licensing and co-development agreements with pharmaceutical and biotech partners.
Is Progenra a public or private company?
Progenra is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Progenra founded?
Progenra was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Progenra based?
Progenra is headquartered in Malvern, United States, in the North America region.
How does Progenra make money?
One revenue line is on record: licensing and Partnership Agreements.
Who are Progenra's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Amphista Therapeutics, BioTheryX and Foghorn Therapeutics. Direct peers are Arvinas, Nurix Therapeutics, Kymera Therapeutics, Mission Therapeutics, Monte Rosa Therapeutics and C4 Therapeutics. Neuroscience-focused pharma (e.g., Denali Therapeutics) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Progenra have an API?
No public API is recorded for Progenra.
What industry is Progenra in?
Progenra's product category is Biotechnology Drug Discovery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAIAC, Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization), with a secondary code of HLAAAIAI, Target Identification & Validation Platforms (omics-driven, chemoproteomics, genetic validation). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 2836.