Using Quantum-Enhanced AI to Design Cancer Drugs For the First Time
ALSO: Weekly Tech+Bio News; This Company Makes Quantum Computing Actually Useful; 12 Companies Using Quantum Theory To Accelerate Drug Discovery
Hi! I am Andrii Buvailo, and this is my weekly newsletter, ‘Where Tech Meets Bio,’ where I talk about technologies, breakthroughs, and great companies moving the biopharma industry forward.
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Now, let’s get to this week’s topics! 🚀
Weekly TECH+BIO highlights:
📈 Eli Lilly approaches joining the exclusive $1 trillion market cap club, with Morgan Stanley analysts optimistic about its growth potential, especially due to its diabetes and obesity drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound
🔬 Insilico Medicine nominates ISM9682, a preclinical candidate for advanced solid tumors targeting KIF18A, designed using Chemistry42. Demonstrating broad anti-tumor activity and favorable safety in preclinical studies, ISM9682 is poised for clinical trials, advancing therapeutic strategies against TP53 mutation cancers like ovarian, breast, and lung cancer.
🚀 Bioptimus, a French startup, launches with $35M seed funding to create an AI foundation model for biology, led by ex-Google DeepMind and Owkin scientists.
🔬 Absci begins IND-enabling studies for ABS-101, a de novo designed anti-TL1A antibody using generative AI, aiming for a Q1 2025 IND submission and subsequent Phase 1 trials
🔬 Ono Pharmaceuticals partners with InveniAI to use AI and ML for identifying new therapeutic targets
🔬 Hungary-based VRG Therapeutics announces successful validation of its AI-powered miniprotein drug discovery platform, promising faster, high-quality drug candidate identification for autoimmune and cancer treatments, enhancing traditional methods with AI-driven efficiency.
🔬 Zapata Computing, in collaboration with Insilico Medicine, the University of Toronto, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, showcases the first use of quantum-enhanced generative AI to produce viable cancer drug candidates,
🔬 South Korean giant Daewoong Pharmaceutical launches a new AI-based drug development system, featuring an 800 million molecular model database (DAVID) and an AI system (DAVIS)
💰 ORI Capital raises $260M for its second life sciences fund, targeting early-stage biotechs worldwide with a focus on diagnostics, therapeutics, and drug delivery in areas like cancer, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases, emphasizing AI-driven research and innovative therapies.
🔬 Receptor.AI partners with NVIDIA's BioNeMo to enhance their drug discovery platform, achieving significant performance improvements and cost savings in virtual screening and ADMET
Using Quantum-Enhanced AI to Design Novel KRAS Inhibitors
In a collaborative effort, Zapata Computing (Zapata AI), together with Insilico Medicine, the University of Toronto, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, has made significant progress in the application of quantum-enhanced generative artificial intelligence (AI) for drug discovery.
Their recent study showcases the use of quantum computing to surpass traditional models in identifying new cancer drug candidates, specifically targeting the historically challenging KRAS inhibitors.
The research utilized a generative AI model operating on a 16-qubit IBM quantum device to produce a million potential drug candidates. These were narrowed down through algorithmic filtering and human evaluation to 15 promising molecules, which underwent synthesis and cell-based assay testing.
Notably, two of these molecules, derived from the quantum-enhanced model, exhibited unique structures and improved efficacy compared to those identified by classical computing methods.
This achievement not only marks a milestone in the integration of quantum computing into the drug discovery process but also demonstrates the potential for quantum and classical computing to work in tandem, offering comprehensive solutions from initial discovery to final drug development. The synergy between Zapata, the University of Toronto, St. Jude, and Insilico exemplifies the productive intersection of startup innovation and academic research in propelling scientific advancement.
The findings, currently under peer review and available on ArXiv, build upon earlier work published in collaboration with Foxconn in 2023. That study first highlighted the potential of quantum generative AI in drug discovery, setting the stage for this latest advancement.
Moreover, this research underlines the capabilities of Insilico Medicine's AI engine, Chemistry42, when combined with quantum-augmented models, to tackle complex drug discovery challenges. The collaboration aims to continue refining these methods, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the search for new treatments for cancer and other diseases.
Zapata AI has also announced a strategic partnership with D-Wave Quantum Inc., focusing on developing quantum generative AI models for the rapid discovery of new molecules. This move towards commercial application underscores the maturity of Zapata's generative AI technology and D-Wave's quantum computing, promising swift progress towards market-ready solutions.
The involvement of Professor Alán Aspuru-Guzik from the University of Toronto highlights the academic support for this initiative, emphasizing the exploratory nature of integrating quantum computing into drug discovery. This research not only achieves a direct outcome in identifying new drug candidates but also paves the way for future advancements with more powerful quantum computers.
Zapata AI is going public
Zapata AI, specializing in Industrial Generative AI, leverages its proprietary technology and the Orquestra® platform to enable enterprises and government entities to solve complex problems efficiently. Founded in 2017 and based in Boston, Zapata AI continues to lead in the application of AI and quantum computing to industrial and scientific challenges.
In October 2023, the company announced its plans to become a publicly listed company on the New York Stock Exchange through a business combination with Andretti Acquisition Corp., valuing Zapata AI at a pre-money equity value of $200 million.
This merger leverages Zapata AI's advanced algorithms and over 100 global patents in generative AI and industrial optimization, highlighting its significant role in revolutionizing AI solutions across various industries, including life sciences, finance, and automotive, through its Orquestra®.
The transaction, expected to close in the first quarter of 2024, will bolster Zapata AI's growth strategy by providing up to $84 million to its balance sheet, aiming to accelerate innovation, customer acquisition, and market positioning in the rapidly expanding generative AI sector.
In 2021, I had the pleasure of talking with Dr. Christopher Savoie, Co-founder, and CEO at Zapata Computing (Zapata AI). He then shared a lot of insights into what quantum computing is and why it is promising. He also explained why it is so challenging.
While the interview is several years old, most of the insights are even more relevant today (when we have the first sign of practical application) than they were back in 2021.
Anyway, here is the full conversation: