Recent funding initiatives are making waves in drug discovery, with $300 million secured by an AI-driven firm and Ottimo Pharma's impressive financing. Collaborations, including Tessera Therapeutics and the Gates Foundation, aim to tackle fibrosis and sickle cell disease. Genetic medicine is advancing with breakthroughs for sickle cell treatment and a new bifunctional antibody in cancer therapy. The role of AI in research continues to expand, enhancing capabilities and igniting innovation across the industry.
A collaborative initiative is developing treatments for fibrotic diseases, addressing a neglected area in therapeutic research with only two existing FDA-approved drugs.
Cradle's successful funding for its AI platform aims to innovate protein engineering, accelerating therapeutic development through enhanced discovery and efficiency in the R&D sector.
Deep dives
Advancements in Fibrosis Treatment
A new initiative aims to establish a company focused on developing innovative treatments for fibrosis, a condition that has long been overlooked in therapeutic research. The collaboration between Venture Studios, Deep Science Ventures, and General Inception seeks to address significant bottlenecks in fibrosis therapeutics, as only two drugs have been FDA-approved for this condition. This new venture will target a range of fibrotic diseases, including pulmonary fibrosis and systemic sclerosis, thereby maximizing the impact of their therapeutic efforts. By prioritizing medical need over technology, the project is poised to make substantial advancements in this neglected area of healthcare.
AI in Protein Engineering
An AI platform designed for protein engineering has successfully raised $73 million in Series B funding to enhance its capabilities within the R&D sector. Cradle's advanced platform allows for accelerated discovery and improvement of proteins, which can significantly impact the development of therapeutics across various industries. By streamlining the protein engineering process, Cradle has demonstrated success in revitalizing stalled projects, such as enhancing enzyme activity much faster than traditional methods. This technology positions the company to empower a wide array of scientists and industries by improving efficiency and driving innovation in protein engineering.
Funding for Sickle Cell Disease Solutions
Ticera Therapeutics has entered into a significant partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support its In Vivo Program aimed at developing a treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD). With an initial investment that may total $50 million, this funding will facilitate the advancement of Tessera’s GeneWriters platform, which aims to correct the sickle mutation through a simplified treatment approach. This innovative platform seeks to replace complex and often inaccessible stem cell-based therapies by utilizing a more direct and effective delivery mechanism. The goal is to create a one-time curative option for SCD, addressing a critical gap in treatment options for patients worldwide.
The latest episode of the DDW Highlights podcast is now available to listen to and watch below. DDW’s Megan Thomas narrates five key stories of the week to keep DDW subscribers up-to-date on the latest industry updates.
As we approach the end of 2024, it’s great to see that investment in drug discovery is still going strong, with an impressive $300 million raised by AI-focused company SandboxAQ and another significant financing by Ottimo Pharma.