Genentech Partners with Genesis Therapeutics to Advance AI-Driven Drug Discovery Platform for Severe Diseases

Compiled | Hemingway

Recently, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, entered into an agreement with Genesis Therapeutics, an artificial intelligence (AI) spin-off from Stanford University, to further co-develop an AI-driven drug discovery platform primarily used to identify therapeutic drugs for several different severe diseases.

In this multi-objective collaboration, Genentech will be able to leverage Genesis Therapeutics’ “dynamic PotentialNet AI” platform and other innovative neural network algorithm technologies. The partnership will officially commence upon Genentech’s payment of an upfront fee to Genesis Therapeutics. Additional terms include milestone payments to Genesis Therapeutics for achievements in preclinical, clinical, and regulatory stages, as well as further royalties on sales of Genentech-related therapies approved through Genesis Therapeutics. However, specific financial details of the collaboration have not yet been disclosed to the public.

In light of current advances in AI research, its applications in the field of new drug development primarily involve: target discovery, compound synthesis, compound screening, crystal form prediction, pharmacological effect evaluation, drug repurposing, and development of new indications.

Image Source: “2020 Blue Book on the Development of the AI Healthcare Industry”

Genesis Therapeutics’ core products are the Dynamic PotentialNet platform and innovative neural network algorithms. This AI-powered platform analyzes drug-target complexes to predict and identify previously untreatable diseases and potential therapeutic targets. In November 2019, the company raised $4.1 million in seed funding to accelerate the development of its AI-driven drug discovery platform, with the proceeds primarily allocated to recruiting new software engineers, AI engineers, and scientists.

Genentech’s Recent Collaborations with Innovative R&D Companies Have Been Highly Active. The Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment for Patients Aged 75 and Older, Co-Developed with AbbVie, Recently Received Full FDA Approval. [Related Reading:Roche/AbbVie’s Venclexta in Combination with Azacitidine for AML Treatment Approved in the US】

Meanwhile, Genentech has also collaborated with Vaccibody AS to develop a personalized neoantigen cancer therapy based on VB10.NEO (a candidate therapeutic cancer vaccine). Similar to the collaboration with Genesis Therapeutics, Vaccibody will receive cash payments during the development of this vaccine. Under the terms of the agreement, the Norway-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company will receive $715 million, in addition to initial upfront and near-term payments totaling approximately $200 million. The agreement also outlines potential milestone payments of up to $515 million, as well as tiered royalties on commercial sales.

Reference Source:

1.Genesis Therapeutics and Genentech Enter AI-Driven Drug Discovery Collaboration

2. “Blue Book on the Development of the Artificial Intelligence Healthcare Industry (2020)”