Coferons and methods of making and using them

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a monomer useful in preparing therapeutic compounds. The monomer includes a diversity element which potentially binds to a target molecule with a dissociation constant of less than 300 μM and a linker element connected to the diversity element. The linker element has a molecular weight less than 500 daltons, is connected, directly or indirectly through a connector, to said diversity element, and is capable of forming a reversible covalent bond or non-covalent interaction with a binding partner of the linker element. The monomers can be covalently or non-covalently linked together to form a therapeutic multimer or a precursor thereof. Also disclosed is a method of screening for therapeutic multimer precursors which bind to a target molecule associated with a condition and a method of screening for linker elements capable of binding to one another. The present invention additionally relates to a therapeutic multimer, which includes a plurality of covalently or non-covalently linked monomers, therapeutic monomers, and uses of such dimers and monomers.