MindRank AI Advances AI-Designed Small Molecule Targeting Challenging Class B GPCR into IND-Enabling Studies Within 8 Months

Leifeng.com(Official Account: Leifeng.com)News: On January 17, 2022, MindRank AI, a company focused on using AI-driven drug discovery, announced the utilization of its self-developed integrated AI new drug discovery platform, Molecule Pro.

Designed and validated 69 novel small molecules and obtained preclinical candidate compounds targeting a Class B G protein-coupled receptor (Class B GPCR) within eight months. This self-developed pipeline has now entered the IND-Enabling Studies stage. Historically, the development of small molecule agonists for Class B GPCRs has proven to be highly challenging.

The company used the Molecule Pro platform to design and virtually screen multiple series of new scaffold molecules, some of which reached picomolar levels in in vitro potency activity tests.

Through further in vitro mechanism and drug-likeness screening, in vivo efficacy/pharmacokinetic evaluation in large and small animals, and preliminary safety testing, the final preclinical candidate compound nominated has demonstrated best-in-class potential in terms of efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and safety (addressing unmet clinical needs for several major chronic diseases).

The Molecule Pro platform is particularly adept at addressing multi-objective optimization challenges in drug discovery. Its proprietary and integrated AI models encompass critical preclinical drug discovery stages such as compound design, screening and optimization, novelty, synthetic feasibility, drug-likeness, and toxicity prediction, offering a platform-based solution that provides leapfrog acceleration and increases success rates for the development of difficult-to-drug targets.

According to public information, this is the second new drug pipeline of MindRank entering the IND-Enabling stage since its establishment a year ago; another allosteric inhibitor drug pipeline co-developed with a listed pharmaceutical company partner entered the IND-Enabling stage in September 2020.

The breakthrough progress in the short term of Class B GPCR target pipeline and allosteric inhibitor pipeline reflects the good versatility and scalability of the Molecule Pro platform for some difficult and undruggable targets.

MindRank Founder and CEO Zhangming Niu stated:"Our platform has significantly improved the efficiency of new drug research and development. Within 8 months, we obtained high-quality preclinical candidate compounds by synthesizing and validating dozens of small molecules. This is the result of continuous attempts, exploration, and innovation in combining artificial intelligence with drug discovery technology."

Dr. Long Zhang, Co-founder and President of MindRank in China:"By innovatively integrating our self-developed AI platform technology with experience in new drug research and development, we have achieved breakthrough progress in a very short period of time, obtaining a preclinical candidate molecule with a novel framework and best-in-class potential. In the future, AI technology is expected to unleash greater potential, becoming a powerful tool to address various challenges in new drug R&D."

About MindRank:

MindRank is an AI-driven innovative drug discovery company. The company's vision is to enhance the efficiency and success rate of drug discovery by integrating technologies such as artificial intelligence, computational chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and molecular biology, enabling more diseases to be treatable and more lives to regain health. MindRank’s AI pharmaceutical solutions were recognized by the authoritative European and American institution Deep Pharma Intelligence as one of the "11 most important breakthrough achievements in global AI drug discovery from 2018 to 2020."

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