Matthew Lucas, PhD, Black Diamond Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, explains the Mutation-Allostery-Pharmacology (MAP) platform developed by Black Diamond Therapeutics. The platform uses computational algorithms to predict which of hundreds or thousands of mutations are likely to be oncogenic. It then predicts how the genetic sequence changes will affect the structure of the resulting protein and groups similar mutations together. Molecular dynamics simulations are used to identify changes in protein dynamics. The result is ‘design-ready’ protein structures which can be used to develop novel molecules to target these oncogenic mutated proteins. This platform aims to be beneficial for patients with rare mutations who would otherwise have limited treatment options and be ineligible for precision therapy. This interview was conducted at the virtual European Society for Medical Oncology Targeted Anti-Cancer Therapies (ESMO TAT) Congress 2022.
