Monte Rosa presents preclinical data on gout treatment candidate
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Monte Rosa reported reduced inflammasome activity and joint swelling with MRT-8102 in preclinical gout models, ahead of a planned Phase 2 study.
BOSTON - Monte Rosa Therapeutics, Inc. presented preclinical data today showing that MRT-8102, a NEK7-directed molecular glue degrader, inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activity in human experimental systems and reduced inflammation in a rabbit model of gouty arthritis, according to a press release statement.
The data were presented at ACR Convergence 2026, held November 6-11 in Orlando, Florida. The presentation took place during Poster Session B on Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET.
In the preclinical studies, MRT-8102 reduced caspase-1 activity in human macrophages stimulated with monosodium urate or calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals. The compound suppressed IL-1β release in ex vivo-stimulated whole blood from donors with and without gout.
In a monosodium urate-induced rabbit model of gouty arthritis, oral administration of MRT-8102 reduced joint swelling and improved musculoskeletal ultrasound composite scores relative to vehicle controls. The compound induced NEK7 degradation in rabbit spleens and reduced synovial-fluid C-reactive protein.
The company stated that MRT-8102 reduced joint swelling with activity that compared to prednisolone, colchicine, and an NLRP3 inhibitor in the rabbit model.
Monte Rosa expects to initiate GEMINI-1, a Phase 2 study of MRT-8102 in patients with gout, in the fourth quarter of 2026. The study will evaluate prevention of flare recurrence following acute flare management, with initial data expected in the second half of 2027.
MRT-8102 targets NEK7, a protein required for NLRP3 inflammasome assembly and activation. In a Phase 1 study involving participants with obesity and elevated cardiovascular risk, MRT-8102 was well tolerated with no serious adverse events reported. MRT-8102 (NEK7 degrader-1) is a potent, selective, orally bioavailable molecular glue degrader of NEK7 that acts through
About Monte Rosa Therapeutics
Monte Rosa Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops molecular glue degrader (MGD) medicines to target and destroy disease-causing proteins. Founded: 2018 (launched out of Versant Ventures’ Ridgeline Discovery Engine in Basel, Switzerland). Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts (with research operations in Basel, Switzerland), Leadership: Markus Warmuth (Chief Executive Officer). Core Technology: Proprietary QuEEN™ (Quantitative and Engineered Elimination of Neosubstrates) platform, which integrates artificial intelligence, structural biology, and proteomics to design small molecules that reprogram the body's natural ubiquitin ligase system to eliminate "undruggable" proteins.
Monte Rosa develops small-molecule medicines across several therapeutic areas:
• Oncology (e.g., MRT-2359, a GSPT1 degrader currently in clinical testing)
• Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases (e.g., MRT-6160 targeting VAV1 and MRT-8102 targeting NEK7)
• Cardiometabolic and Immunology
