Mapping Scientific Landscapes and Therapeutic Innovations of Targeted Protein Degradation: A Scientometric Review

Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) has emerged as a transformative paradigm in drug discovery, offering a robust strategy to address "undruggable" targets. This study presents the first 25-year longitudinal scientometric analysis (2001-2025) of the TPD field, integrating data from 2750 publications across the Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and PubMed to map the global research landscape and therapeutic innovations. The results indicate that TPD research entered an explosive growth phase post-2016. China leads in publication volume (1247 papers), while the USA maintains dominance in citation impact (H-index = 80) and foundational leadership. The Chinese Academy of Sciences and Harvard University were identified as core institutions, with Craig M. Crews confirmed as a pivotal scholar. Thematic analysis reveals a systematic evolution from foundational ubiquitin-proteasome mechanisms to the clinical translation of advanced modalities, including Proteolysis-Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs), molecular glues, and non-ubiquitin-dependent platforms like LYTACs and AUTACs. Clinical viability is evidenced by the FDA approval of the agent ARV-471 for oncology. Despite this progress, critical challenges remain regarding E3 ligase expansion, molecular design optimization, and off-target toxicity. This review provides a data-driven roadmap for future TPD development, bridging the gap between academic output and real-world translational science to guide researchers, clinicians, and industry partners in navigating this dynamic therapeutic frontier.