Why We Invested in TernaryTx
TernaryTx is revolutionizing drug discovery with an AI-driven platform for designing molecular glue therapeutics, unlocking new possibilities for previously undruggable targets.
Feb 27, 2025
Marius Swart
At Pace Ventures, we seek out pioneering teams leveraging cutting-edge technology to create transformational change. That’s why we’re excited to announce our investment in TernaryTx, a company redefining molecular glue discovery with its AI-powered computational platform. Their approach has the potential to unlock new therapeutic opportunities for diseases that were previously considered untreatable.
The Opportunity
The pharmaceutical industry has long struggled with the challenge of drugging so-called “undruggable” proteins, which account for approximately 85% of disease-causing targets. Molecular glues—small molecules that induce protein-protein interactions to degrade or modulate disease-driving proteins—have emerged as a promising solution, but discovering them has been a slow and serendipitous process.
TernaryTx is changing this paradigm by systematically designing molecular glues using AI and molecular dynamics simulations. Their proprietary platform enables a structured and scalable approach to identifying and optimizing these compounds, drastically reducing discovery timelines and increasing success rates. With recent billion-dollar deals in the molecular glue space, the demand for enabling technologies in this field is surging.
Key Platform Features
TernaryTx’s platform integrates multiple computational techniques to address the biggest challenges in molecular glue discovery:
AI-Powered Target Glueability Assessment (Leopard): Identifies hot spots for ternary complex formation on protein surfaces. Dramatically reducing the failure rate in molecular glue hit discovery.
Geometric Deep Learning for Protein-Protein Interaction Matching (Puffin): Identifies novel molecular glue binding opportunities across previously undruggable targets. This enables rational, structure-based drug discovery eliminating slow and expensive target deconvolution work.
Glue-Specific AI Models (Octopus):. An ensemble of different AI models designed to predict the different facets of ternary complex binding. Validated on glue activity data to significantly improve hit rates, reducing failure risks.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations (Gecko Model): Evaluates complex stability to predict viable molecular glue interactions.
This end-to-end discovery pipeline significantly accelerates the identification of high-potential molecular glues, leading to faster development cycles and reduced costs.
The Team
TernaryTx is led by Dr. Chris Tame (CEO & Founder), a veteran in AI-driven drug discovery, alongside a world-class team with backgrounds spanning BenevolentAI, GSK, and The Francis Crick Institute. Their advisory board includes industry pioneers in targeted protein degradation (TPD) and computational drug design.
From our first interactions, we were impressed not only by their technical expertise but also by their deep commitment to execution. Their team has already demonstrated rapid progress, building a unique and scalable tech stack capable of screening thousands of compounds per day which has caught the attention of several industry leaders.
TernaryTx’s Impact
TernaryTx is initially focusing on areas where molecular glues hold significant potential but remain underexplored. By addressing diseases with high unmet medical needs and lower tolerance for side effects, their platform is unlocking new treatment avenues beyond oncology, where most TPD research has been concentrated.
The company has already achieved key milestones, including the development of proprietary models (Leopard, Puffin, Octopus & Gecko), successful Hit ID screening for traditionally difficult-to-target proteins, and discussing strategic partnerships with major pharmaceutical players. Their ability to deliver validated lead compounds in record time positions them as a category leader in molecular glue discovery.
Our Co-Investors
We are thrilled to partner with I&I Bio, supporting TernaryTx in its mission to revolutionize drug discovery. At Pace Ventures, we believe in backing transformative ideas at the frontier of science and technology. TernaryTx’s AI-driven approach to molecular glue discovery represents a true breakthrough, and we’re proud to support them on their journey to unlocking the full therapeutic potential of molecular glues.
At Pace Ventures, we seek out pioneering teams leveraging cutting-edge technology to create transformational change. That’s why we’re excited to announce our investment in TernaryTx, a company redefining molecular glue discovery with its AI-powered computational platform. Their approach has the potential to unlock new therapeutic opportunities for diseases that were previously considered untreatable.
The Opportunity
The pharmaceutical industry has long struggled with the challenge of drugging so-called “undruggable” proteins, which account for approximately 85% of disease-causing targets. Molecular glues—small molecules that induce protein-protein interactions to degrade or modulate disease-driving proteins—have emerged as a promising solution, but discovering them has been a slow and serendipitous process.
TernaryTx is changing this paradigm by systematically designing molecular glues using AI and molecular dynamics simulations. Their proprietary platform enables a structured and scalable approach to identifying and optimizing these compounds, drastically reducing discovery timelines and increasing success rates. With recent billion-dollar deals in the molecular glue space, the demand for enabling technologies in this field is surging.
Key Platform Features
TernaryTx’s platform integrates multiple computational techniques to address the biggest challenges in molecular glue discovery:
AI-Powered Target Glueability Assessment (Leopard): Identifies hot spots for ternary complex formation on protein surfaces. Dramatically reducing the failure rate in molecular glue hit discovery.
Geometric Deep Learning for Protein-Protein Interaction Matching (Puffin): Identifies novel molecular glue binding opportunities across previously undruggable targets. This enables rational, structure-based drug discovery eliminating slow and expensive target deconvolution work.
Glue-Specific AI Models (Octopus):. An ensemble of different AI models designed to predict the different facets of ternary complex binding. Validated on glue activity data to significantly improve hit rates, reducing failure risks.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations (Gecko Model): Evaluates complex stability to predict viable molecular glue interactions.
This end-to-end discovery pipeline significantly accelerates the identification of high-potential molecular glues, leading to faster development cycles and reduced costs.
The Team
TernaryTx is led by Dr. Chris Tame (CEO & Founder), a veteran in AI-driven drug discovery, alongside a world-class team with backgrounds spanning BenevolentAI, GSK, and The Francis Crick Institute. Their advisory board includes industry pioneers in targeted protein degradation (TPD) and computational drug design.
From our first interactions, we were impressed not only by their technical expertise but also by their deep commitment to execution. Their team has already demonstrated rapid progress, building a unique and scalable tech stack capable of screening thousands of compounds per day which has caught the attention of several industry leaders.
TernaryTx’s Impact
TernaryTx is initially focusing on areas where molecular glues hold significant potential but remain underexplored. By addressing diseases with high unmet medical needs and lower tolerance for side effects, their platform is unlocking new treatment avenues beyond oncology, where most TPD research has been concentrated.
The company has already achieved key milestones, including the development of proprietary models (Leopard, Puffin, Octopus & Gecko), successful Hit ID screening for traditionally difficult-to-target proteins, and discussing strategic partnerships with major pharmaceutical players. Their ability to deliver validated lead compounds in record time positions them as a category leader in molecular glue discovery.
Our Co-Investors
We are thrilled to partner with I&I Bio, supporting TernaryTx in its mission to revolutionize drug discovery. At Pace Ventures, we believe in backing transformative ideas at the frontier of science and technology. TernaryTx’s AI-driven approach to molecular glue discovery represents a true breakthrough, and we’re proud to support them on their journey to unlocking the full therapeutic potential of molecular glues.
At Pace Ventures, we seek out pioneering teams leveraging cutting-edge technology to create transformational change. That’s why we’re excited to announce our investment in TernaryTx, a company redefining molecular glue discovery with its AI-powered computational platform. Their approach has the potential to unlock new therapeutic opportunities for diseases that were previously considered untreatable.
The Opportunity
The pharmaceutical industry has long struggled with the challenge of drugging so-called “undruggable” proteins, which account for approximately 85% of disease-causing targets. Molecular glues—small molecules that induce protein-protein interactions to degrade or modulate disease-driving proteins—have emerged as a promising solution, but discovering them has been a slow and serendipitous process.
TernaryTx is changing this paradigm by systematically designing molecular glues using AI and molecular dynamics simulations. Their proprietary platform enables a structured and scalable approach to identifying and optimizing these compounds, drastically reducing discovery timelines and increasing success rates. With recent billion-dollar deals in the molecular glue space, the demand for enabling technologies in this field is surging.
Key Platform Features
TernaryTx’s platform integrates multiple computational techniques to address the biggest challenges in molecular glue discovery:
AI-Powered Target Glueability Assessment (Leopard): Identifies hot spots for ternary complex formation on protein surfaces. Dramatically reducing the failure rate in molecular glue hit discovery.
Geometric Deep Learning for Protein-Protein Interaction Matching (Puffin): Identifies novel molecular glue binding opportunities across previously undruggable targets. This enables rational, structure-based drug discovery eliminating slow and expensive target deconvolution work.
Glue-Specific AI Models (Octopus):. An ensemble of different AI models designed to predict the different facets of ternary complex binding. Validated on glue activity data to significantly improve hit rates, reducing failure risks.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations (Gecko Model): Evaluates complex stability to predict viable molecular glue interactions.
This end-to-end discovery pipeline significantly accelerates the identification of high-potential molecular glues, leading to faster development cycles and reduced costs.
The Team
TernaryTx is led by Dr. Chris Tame (CEO & Founder), a veteran in AI-driven drug discovery, alongside a world-class team with backgrounds spanning BenevolentAI, GSK, and The Francis Crick Institute. Their advisory board includes industry pioneers in targeted protein degradation (TPD) and computational drug design.
From our first interactions, we were impressed not only by their technical expertise but also by their deep commitment to execution. Their team has already demonstrated rapid progress, building a unique and scalable tech stack capable of screening thousands of compounds per day which has caught the attention of several industry leaders.
TernaryTx’s Impact
TernaryTx is initially focusing on areas where molecular glues hold significant potential but remain underexplored. By addressing diseases with high unmet medical needs and lower tolerance for side effects, their platform is unlocking new treatment avenues beyond oncology, where most TPD research has been concentrated.
The company has already achieved key milestones, including the development of proprietary models (Leopard, Puffin, Octopus & Gecko), successful Hit ID screening for traditionally difficult-to-target proteins, and discussing strategic partnerships with major pharmaceutical players. Their ability to deliver validated lead compounds in record time positions them as a category leader in molecular glue discovery.
Our Co-Investors
We are thrilled to partner with I&I Bio, supporting TernaryTx in its mission to revolutionize drug discovery. At Pace Ventures, we believe in backing transformative ideas at the frontier of science and technology. TernaryTx’s AI-driven approach to molecular glue discovery represents a true breakthrough, and we’re proud to support them on their journey to unlocking the full therapeutic potential of molecular glues.