Boehringer Ingelheim and VantAI Announce AI-Powered Collaboration to Develop Novel Protein Degraders Targeting 'Undruggable' Proteins

Recently, VantAI and Boehringer Ingelheim jointly announced that they have reached an early-stage drug discovery research collaboration, focusing on discovering innovative degraders for traditionally "undruggable" targets.

VantAI, a subsidiary of Roivant Sciences, is dedicated to using machine learning to design and optimize induced proximity drugs. The company's evolutionary scoring system draws on naturally occurring protein interaction interfaces, enabling generative models to design smaller molecular weight molecular glues that form highly cooperative ternary complexes. VantAI has collaborated with numerous biopharmaceutical partners to initiate exciting new development projects through its unique "Protein-Contact-First" strategy, requiring only a fraction of the time and cost of traditional methods.

This collaboration will initially focus on a degrader program that combines multiple unique E3 ligase platforms. Scientists from both companies will leverage VantAI's geometric deep learning platform to optimize the design of new molecules for each E3 ligase platform. By utilizing the unique interaction interfaces between targets and different E3 ligases, new avenues for optimizing drug potency and selectivity will be created.

Boehringer Ingelheim will provide VantAI with an undisclosed upfront payment as well as preclinical, clinical, and commercial milestone payments. Boehringer Ingelheim will obtain the research and development rights to the degrader for the initial target and will be responsible for global development and commercialization.

Note: The original text has been abridged.

References:

[1] VantAI Forms Research Collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim to Identify Novel Protein Degraders. Retrieved April 21, 2022, from https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/04/20/2425335/0/en/VantAI-Forms-Research-Collaboration-with-Boehringer-Ingelheim-to-Identify-Novel-Protein-Degraders.html

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