beta-tubulin Inhibitors
5 drugsAbout beta-tubulin
Beta-tubulin is a key component of microtubules, dynamic structures essential for cell division, intracellular transport, and cell shape maintenance. Disrupting microtubule function by targeting beta-tubulin can have significant therapeutic effects on cellular processes.
Human genetic studies provide strong validation for beta-tubulin (TUBB) as a therapeutic target (max score 0.90). Variants are linked to complex cortical dysplasia (0.90) and multiple benign skin creases (0.84), supporting therapies modulating its function.
Three FDA-approved small molecule drugs, including COLCRYS, GLOPERBA, and MITIGARE, target beta-tubulin for other therapeutic areas. These drugs, developed by companies like AR HOLDING CO INC, SCILEX PHARMS and Hikma, highlight the target's clinical relevance.
Strategic Insights
ℹ️ How we calculate- Validated target with strong trial activity and 80% attractiveness score.
- White space opportunity in Ischemic Stroke with only 2 trials.
Human Genetic Evidence Strong
Strong genetic evidence (max score 0.90) links beta-tubulin to multiple diseases.
Strong genetic support increases the probability of clinical trial success.
Evidence Across Diseases
7 totalGWAS and other genetic studies link TUBB to 7 diseases.
Understanding these scores
Association Score (0-1): Combines all evidence types (genetic, literature, drugs, animal models). Higher = more evidence linking target to disease. This is a ranking heuristic, not a confidence score.
L2G Score: Open Targets uses a machine learning model (Locus-to-Gene) to predict which gene is causal at each GWAS locus. L2G=0.5 means ~50% probability of being the causal gene. Only associations with L2G > 0.05 are included.
Odds Ratio (OR): From gene burden studies (UK Biobank, AstraZeneca PheWAS). Measures how loss-of-function variants affect disease risk. OR<1 = protective (inhibiting target may help), OR>1 = risk (losing function causes disease).
Beta (β): Effect size for continuous traits. β<0 = protective, β>0 = risk.
Clinical Translation (~1.8x): Based on Nelson et al. 2015: drug targets with genetic evidence have ~2x higher success rates in clinical trials. We estimate: Strong support (score ≥0.7) → ~1.8x, Moderate (0.3-0.7) → ~1.3x, Weak → baseline.
Colocalization (H4): Tests whether a GWAS signal and an eQTL/pQTL signal share the same causal variant. H4 is the posterior probability that both traits are associated AND share a causal variant. H4 > 0.8 = strong evidence that gene expression/protein levels drive disease risk. This links genetic variation → gene expression → disease, supporting the target-disease connection.
Top Drugs
The competitive landscape includes three companies with approved drugs.
The limited number of players suggests relatively low barriers to entry in this market.
| Drug | Company | Approved | Indications |
|---|---|---|---|
| MITIGARE | Hikma | 2014 | 1 |
| GLOPERBA | SCILEX PHARMS | 2019 | 1 |
Drug Modality Landscape
Modalities
Routes of Administration
beta-tubulin is amenable to small molecule drugs, with oral options available for convenient dosing.
Exploring alternative modalities like antibodies or peptides could provide a competitive advantage.
Clinical Trials 212 trials
Completion by Phase
| Phase | Total | Completed | Failed | Active | Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 35 | 30 | 1 | 4 | 97% |
| Phase 2 | 66 | 38 | 12 | 16 | 76% |
| Phase 3 | 61 | 25 | 6 | 29 | 81% |
| Phase 4 | 50 | 27 | 5 | 17 | 84% |
Top Sponsors
By Modality
Top Conditions
Top Drugs
Drug Approval Timeline (2009 - 2019)
The first drug was approved in 2009 (COLCRYS), and the most recent in 2019 (GLOPERBA).
The approval timeline indicates a relatively stable, but not saturated, market.
Pro Intelligence Preview
Deep insights for drug target analysis
Competitive Landscape
- • 5 companies competing
- • Market share by company
Full Drug Portfolio
- • All 5 approved drugs
- • Approval dates & indications
Genetic Validation
- • Full genetic evidence table
- • Effect sizes & directions
Approval Timeline
- • Full 5-drug timeline
- • First-of-modality markers
Clinical Trials Analysis
- • Competition: High (15 sponsors)
- • White space: 10 underexplored indications
- • Success rates by condition
Full summary • All drugs • Genetic evidence • Trials • Timeline
How We Calculate These Metrics
Target Attractiveness Score
A 0-100 score based on trial activity, sponsor diversity, and completion rates. Calculated from 158 clinical trials targeting beta-tubulin.
Completion rate: Percentage of trials that reached their planned endpoint. Trials terminated early, withdrawn, or suspended are not counted—these often indicate safety issues, lack of efficacy, or strategic pivots.
- Highly Attractive (80+): High trial activity, many sponsors, strong completion rates
- Attractive (60-79): Good trial activity and validation
- Moderate (40-59): Moderate interest from sponsors
- Low (under 40): Limited trial activity or validation concerns
Strategic Insights
Auto-generated insights based on trial analytics including competition intensity, white space opportunities, modality shifts, and failure patterns. We analyze trial sponsors, phases, indications, and outcomes.
Risk Signals
- High Competition: Many sponsors competing for this target (may reduce market opportunity)
- High Failure Risk: Low trial completion rates suggest development challenges
- Low Validation: Limited trial activity or poor outcomes indicate uncertain viability
- White Space Available: Underexplored indications present opportunities