China-based AI-powered drug discovery firm Insilico Medicine has struck a partnership with ShanghaiTech University’s iHuman institute to bolster the research and development of tumor drugs with novel targets. This collaboration aims to leverage Insilico’s generative AI platform and ShanghaiTech’s expertise in structural biology to advance drug discovery.
Leveraging AI for Drug Design and Structural Biology
According to the agreement, Insilico will utilize its target discovery engine PandaOmics under the AI Drug development platform Pharma.AI to design small molecules based on target structure. The company will also complete the generation and virtual screening of candidate drugs with the assistance of the Chemistry42 platform until the project advances to the stage of emerging compounds. The iHuman institute will take on the responsibility for target structure analysis, pharmacological research, and functional verification experiments, as well as the functional confirmation and optimization of potential candidate compounds.
Insilico’s Proprietary Pharma.AI Platform and Clinical Programs
Insilico boasts a portfolio of 30 in-house developed programs based on its proprietary drug development platform Pharma.AI. This includes INS018_055, the world’s first anti-idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis project, oral anti-COVID-19 3CL protease inhibitor ISM3312, and potential “best in class” small molecule inhibitor ISM3091 targeting USP1, all of which are at clinical stages. The company’s partnerships with industry and academic entities such as Sanofi, Fosun Pharma, University of Zurich, and Cambridge University further underscore its commitment to leveraging AI for drug discovery and development.-Fineline Info & Tech
