BDNF

Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor

Score: 0.586 Price: $0.59 Low Druggability Status: active Wiki: BDNF

🧠 Neurodegeneration

HYPOTHESES

PAPERS

KG EDGES

1750

DEBATES

3D Protein Structure

🧬 BDNF — PDB 1BND Click to expand

Experimental structure from RCSB PDB | Powered by Mol*

Druggability & Clinical Context

Druggability

Low

Score: 0.29

Clinical Stage

Phase II

Target Class

Ligand

Safety

0.60

Druggability Analysis

Drug Development0.30

Structural Tractability0.30

Target Class0.50

Safety Profile0.60

Key Metrics

PDB Structures:

Known Drugs:

Approved:

In Clinical Trials:

Drug Pipeline (1 compounds)

1 Preclinical

Druggability Rationale: BDNF presents low druggability (0.30 score) primarily due to its protein nature, poor blood-brain barrier penetration, and limited structural characterization (no PDB structures available despite AlphaFold predictions). While protein replacement and small molecule mimetic approaches are theoretically viable, as evidenced by preclinical Dihexa development, the absence of well-defined ligand binding pockets and high protein instability significantly hamper traditional drug development strategies.

Mechanism: Protein replacement therapy or small molecule mimetic

Drug Pipeline (1 compounds)

1 Preclinical

Known Drugs:

Dihexa (preclinical) — Alzheimer's disease

Structural Data:

PDB —AlphaFold ✓Cryo-EM —

UniProt: Q969N8

🧬 3D Protein Structure

🧬 BDNF — PDB 1BND Click to expand interactive 3D viewer

Experimental structure from RCSB PDB | Powered by Mol* | Rotate: click+drag | Zoom: scroll

Selectivity & Safety Considerations

BDNF selectivity is less relevant than isoform considerations, as the mature and pro-BDNF forms have distinct biological activities and potential opposing effects. Off-target risks primarily involve non-specific neurotrophic pathway activation; selectivity against other neurotrophins (NGF, NT-3, NT-4) is critical to avoid unintended cellular proliferation or pain sensitization.