TL;DR:
- The University of Sydney and Pharos Therapeutics have joined forces to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) in drug discovery.
- The collaboration aims to identify promising compounds for the development of cancer and rare disease treatments.
- The University gains access to Pharos iBio’s Chemiverse, an AI drug development platform, while Pharos benefits from the University’s expertise and drug-discovery infrastructure.
- The partnership will enhance the ability to develop innovative treatments and support new drug discovery pipelines.
- Pharos iBio’s Chemiverse platform incorporates advanced algorithms and big data, enabling continuous research and commercialization of pipeline projects.
- The University’s Drug Discovery Initiative and Professor Michael Kassiou play a key role in compound development and collaboration efforts.
- The collaboration aligns with the University’s commitment to translating research into real-world solutions.
- The partnership signifies a significant step in leveraging AI and advanced drug discovery techniques to address unmet medical needs.
Main AI News:
Pharos Therapeutics, the Australian subsidiary of South Korean pharmaceutical company Pharos iBio, has recently entered into a strategic partnership with the University of Sydney. This collaboration aims to leverage the power of artificial intelligence (AI) in identifying promising compounds for the rapid development of treatments targeting cancers and rare diseases.
Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Pharos and the University, the former will grant access to its proprietary AI drug development platform, Chemiverse, to the University’s Drug Discovery Initiative. In return, Pharos will benefit from collaborating with the University’s renowned team of researchers and their state-of-the-art drug-discovery infrastructure.
Professor Michael Kassiou, Director of the Drug Discovery Initiative, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “The process of developing drugs for treating disease is highly complex. We are incredibly excited to be working with Pharos Therapeutics, which will bring its cutting-edge artificial intelligence platform Chemiverse to this partnership. This platform will greatly enhance our ability to develop novel treatments for unmet medical needs. Additionally, the platform’s synergies with the Drug Discovery Initiative will boost our innovation and support new drug discovery pipelines.”
The Drug Discovery Initiative, situated in the School of Chemistry, serves as an interdisciplinary academic network, pooling together exceptional talent, advanced technologies, and effective tools to expedite early-stage drug development.
Professor Julie Cairney, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Enterprise), highlighted the University’s commitment to translating fundamental research into practical solutions. She emphasized the potential of the collaboration with Pharos Therapeutics in leveraging the expertise within the Drug Discovery Initiative to develop life-saving targets for cancer and rare diseases.
Dr. Kyu-Tae Kim, co-CEO of Pharos Therapeutics in Australia, expressed his excitement about working with the University and the Drug Discovery Initiative, aiming to utilize cutting-edge infrastructure to accelerate drug discovery efforts.
Pharos iBio’s Chemiverse platform plays a pivotal role throughout the entire new drug development process, from target discovery to lead compound generation. With access to approximately 230 million pieces of big data and advanced algorithms, the platform empowers Pharos iBio to conduct continuous research and development, supporting the commercialization of various pipeline projects. Notably, the platform is currently contributing to the advancement of the acute myeloid leukemia treatment “PHI-101,” which is undergoing phase 1b clinical trials.
Professor Kassiou and the Drug Discovery Initiative are actively engaged in the development of new compounds and the identification of collaboration opportunities. The establishment of the NSW Organoid Innovation Centre, funded by the NSW Government, exemplifies their dedication to accelerating drug discovery and design through the application of cutting-edge stem-cell techniques.
Pharos Therapeutics joined the Sydney Knowledge Hub earlier this year, a startup incubator and coworking space at the University. This initiative aims to foster collaboration between industry and the Sydney research community, creating an environment conducive to knowledge exchange and innovation.
Rupal Ismin, Director of the Sydney Knowledge Hub, commended Pharos Therapeutics for taking the next steps in partnership with the University. She emphasized the importance of direct relationships between the research community and innovative companies like Pharos Therapeutics, as they enhance the translation of fundamental research into tangible outcomes.
Conclusion:
The partnership between the University of Sydney and Pharos Therapeutics in the field of AI-driven drug discovery holds tremendous potential for the market. By combining the University’s world-class researchers and drug discovery infrastructure with Pharos iBio’s cutting-edge Chemiverse platform, the collaboration is poised to accelerate the development of novel treatments for cancer and rare diseases.
The incorporation of AI, advanced algorithms, and big data in the drug discovery process enables efficient target discovery and compound generation. This collaboration not only boosts innovation within the Drug Discovery Initiative but also positions both entities as leaders in the race to address unmet medical needs. Overall, this partnership exemplifies the growing significance of AI in revolutionizing the pharmaceutical industry and has the potential to transform patient outcomes.
