Verge Genomics Announces $700 Million AI-Driven Collaboration with Eli Lilly to Develop Novel ALS Therapies

Today, Verge Genomics, a company dedicated to AI-driven drug discovery and development focused on severe genetic diseases, announced a three-year collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company to research and develop novel therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Under the terms of the agreement, Verge will receive a $25 million upfront payment, an equity investment, and potential near-term payments, along with additional milestones valued at $694 million, as well as potential royalties.

ALS, also known as "Lou Gehrig's disease," has an average patient life expectancy of approximately 2 to 5 years, and currently, there is no cure. One of the greatest challenges in ALS treatment is the underlying complex biology and the lack of animal models with predictive value. Recent advances in gene sequencing and human tissue biobanks have provided new opportunities for developing breakthrough therapies. Artificial intelligence enables the processing and integration of diverse types of human data generated by these technologies, holding promise for addressing complex diseases such as ALS.

In this collaboration, Verge will leverage its "all-in-human" platform to discover and validate novel targets for ALS. Built upon brain transcriptome datasets from patients with various neurodegenerative diseases, the platform utilizes artificial intelligence to provide insights into novel causal disease mechanisms within patient populations stratified by genetic profiles, thereby enabling the discovery of therapeutic targets. Eli Lilly will select up to four targets identified by Verge and plans to advance their development through clinical trials to commercialization.

▲Verge's "all-in-human" platform (Screenshot source: Verge Genomics official website)

Note: The original text has been abridged.

References:

[1] Verge Genomics Announces Three-Year Collaboration With Lilly to Discover and Develop Novel Treatments Using Its AI-Driven All-in-Human Platform. Retrieved July 8, 2021, from https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210708005085/en/Verge-Genomics-Announces-Three-Year-Collaboration-With-Lilly-to-Discover-and-Develop-Novel-Treatments-Using-Its-AI-Driven-All-in-Human-Platform

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