A Global Bibliometric and Visualized Analysis of Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras from 2015 to 2024

Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) have emerged as groundbreaking therapeutic agents and experienced explosive growth over the past decade. This study aim to comprehensively demonstrate the evolution of PROTACs in drug development research over the past decade and to reveal future trends.

Original publications focusing on PROTACs from 2015 to 2024 were extracted from the WoSCC (Web of Science Core Collection) database and analyzed using the visualization tools VOSviewer and CiteSpace.

A total of 2307 eligible publications were analyzed. Two distinct phases were found in the publication trends based on annual and cumulative publications: a slow growth phase (2015-2018) and a rapid expansion phase (2019-2024), which indicates that the PROTAC technology received tremendous attention in the recent five years and is likely to remain active and robust in the coming years. China and the USA are the most productive countries in this field of research.

Three major themes were identified: the design and optimization of PROTACs for various diseases, especially cancer; the exploration of ligands for E3 ligases; and the mechanisms of action and resistance of PROTACs. The research hotspots have shifted from traditional PROTACs to novel PROTACs based on nanotechnology for precise, controlled degradation; degrader-antibody conjugates; and dual or multiple PROTAC degrader strategies. The future may focus on exploring clinical translation, combination therapeutic strategies and the toxicity and resistance of PROTAC.

PROTACs have advanced rapidly in therapeutic research over the past decade, and future research may mainly focus on achieving clinical application across various diseases, overcoming resistance, and improving safety profiles.