| Clinical data | |
|---|---|
| Other names | GT20029; AR-PROTAC |
| Routes of administration | Topical [1] [2] |
| Drug class | Androgen receptor degradation enhancer |
GT-20029, also known as AR-PROTAC, is an androgen receptor degradation enhancer which is under development for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (male-pattern hair loss) and acne. [1] [3] [4] It is used topically in gel form. [1] [2]
The drug acts as an androgen receptor (AR) proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC), facilitating the degradation of the AR via enhancement of ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. [4] [5] [2] [6] It has been found to block the AR-mediated miniaturization of hair follicles in preclinical research. [6]
GT-20029 is under development by Suzhou Kintor Pharmaceuticals. [1] [3] As of September 2024, it is in phase 2 clinical trials and is advancing to phase 3 trials. [1] [3] [7] The chemical structure of GT-20029 does not yet appear to have been disclosed. [4]
Discovery of oral AR degrader GT20029 (undisclosed structures): Recently, Kintor Pharmaceutical Ltd. (Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Market [HKEX]: 9939) developed a topical AR degrader based on the PROTAC platform with development of an oral PROTAC drug (GT20029) targeting AR. The animal experiments showed that GT20029 is superior to other small molecule AR inhibitors. The company announced that the investigational new drug (IND) GT20029 for androgenetic alopecia and acne vulgaris indications was accepted by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China on February 2, 2021. With improved efficacy, GT20029 was reported to effectively avoids systemic exposure to mitigate the side effects of typical oral drugs. The time will tell how GT20029 performs in the clinical trials.