XtalPi Announces AI-Powered Peptide Drug Discovery Collaboration with Singapore’s National Cancer Centre and Duke-NUS Medical School Targeting Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Dec 30, 2024 09:10 CST Updated 09:10

XtalPi

Computation-Driven Innovative Drug R&D Provider

Today, XtalPi announced an AI-driven drug discovery collaboration with the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) and Duke-NUS Medical School. XtalPi will utilize its AI and automation-powered peptide R&D design platform to discover and design clinical candidate drugs targeting a novel clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) target selected by NCCS. The aim is to provide better treatment options for this common type of kidney cancer and share the subsequent commercialization outcomes with the collaborators.

AI-Powered Peptide Discovery Platform

Researchers Challenge Renal Cell Carcinoma

According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), kidney cancer ranks 14th in global cancer incidence, with approximately 430,000 new cases each year.^[1]In renal cancer, Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type and the deadliest cancer of the urinary system. Among RCC, clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most prevalent, accounting for approximately 75%.^[2], with insidious onset and poor prognosis, the five-year survival rate is only 10% at the late stage or after metastasis.^[3]Due to the high heterogeneity of renal cell carcinoma, targeted therapies and immunotherapies, which are the mainstays for advanced ccRCC, face challenges such as low response rates, severe adverse effects, and drug resistance. There is an urgent need in the field of renal cell carcinoma to develop new targets and effective drugs to better meet the clinical medication needs of patients.

Based on years of research into the biological mechanisms of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), NCCS has discovered a novel target for treating advanced ccRCC. Through a strong collaboration with XtalPi and Duke-NUS, this effort is expected to bring more targeted cancer treatments to patients with advanced ccRCC. XtalPi will leverage its advanced peptide discovery platform, in combination with Duke-NUS.Leading Scientific Research and Experimental Validation Capabilities, the first-in-class peptide drug targeting a novel ccRCC target recognized by NCCS. The three collaborating parties will jointly advance subsequent clinical and commercial translation.

Peptide drugs have the advantages of low immunogenicity, small molecular weight, and relatively shorter research and development cycles. XtalPi will fully leverage its successful experience accumulated in the research and development of macromolecular drugs, combining its AI-based peptide molecule generation algorithms with advanced high-throughput experimental screening methods such as One-Bead-One-Compound (OBOC) and mRNA Display to rapidly achieve intelligent design and efficient screening of peptide drugs. This approach aims to iteratively optimize peptide drug candidates with high specificity, safety, and therapeutic efficacy, with the goal of providing more diverse treatment options in the ccRCC field and benefiting kidney cancer patients worldwide.

Strong collaboration between industry, academia, and research,

Co-create Breakthrough Therapies, Promote Commercial Transformation Together

XtalPi, as an innovative R&D platform empowered by quantum physics, AI, and robotics, has provided R&D services to over 300 enterprises and research institutions worldwide in the fields of biomedicine, new energy, and advanced materials, including 16 of the top 20 global multinational pharmaceutical companies. XtalPi possesses leading AI molecular design and development capabilities along with extensive experience in AI-driven biopharmaceutical R&D. It has been chosen by several cutting-edge research institutions, such as Singapore’s national drug discovery platform—Experimental Drug Development Centre (EDDC) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), broadly supporting the clinical translation of advanced R&D outcomes.This collaboration with NCCS and Duke-NUS marks another solid step forward for XtalPi in the cutting-edge practice of AI-driven peptide research and development. By integrating the strengths of all three parties in fundamental research, algorithmic innovation, advanced technology, and clinical practice, there is potential to accelerate the delivery of better treatment options for patients.

The National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) is Singapore's leading national and regional tertiary cancer center, home to a team of cancer treatment experts. In addition to providing comprehensive multidisciplinary oncology care, its clinicians and scientists collaborate with local and international partners to conduct robust and cutting-edge clinical and translational research.

Duke-NUS Medical School, as a global leader in medical education and biomedical research, will contribute its expertise to this project by evaluating the efficacy of novel peptide drugs in inhibiting tumor growth through laboratory research. Utilizing cutting-edge technologies, including genomic tools, Duke-NUS scientists will gain deep insights into the complex biological interactions between novel peptide drugs and oncogenic targets in tumor cells, thereby developing innovative therapies that target specific molecular processes to kill more cancer cells.

Prof. Teh Bin Tean, Deputy CEO of NCCS, stated:"The incidence of kidney cancer in Asia is on the rise, and once it progresses to the late stage, the mortality rate is very high, yet there are few effective treatments available. Through this collaboration with XtalPi, we look forward to leveraging the latest AI technology for drug discovery and conducting cutting-edge research at the National Cancer Centre Singapore. We hope to use the research findings to develop new kidney cancer treatments and help improve patient outcomes."

Professor Chen Wenwei, Senior Vice Dean of Research at Duke-NUS, stated:"Through the collaboration with XtalPi, the Duke-NUS Medical School is at the forefront of revolutionizing cancer treatment by leveraging cutting-edge artificial intelligence and automation technologies. This partnership enables us to enhance our drug discovery process by integrating an AI-driven platform for the rapid screening and development of new cancer therapies. By applying our combined expertise, we aim to explore novel biological pathways, deepen our understanding of tumor biology, and significantly reduce the time required to bring promising treatments to patients. The integration of XtalPi’s innovative technology provides a crucial opportunity to expand our research capabilities and accelerate drug development, with the potential to deliver better therapeutic outcomes for patients worldwide."

Dr. Lipeng Lai, Chief Innovation Officer of XtalPi, said：“"I am very honored to gain the recognition and trust of the experts from the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) and Duke-NUS Medical School. XtalPi's advanced AI peptide R&D algorithms have already accumulated a wealth of successful experience. Combined with the extensive fundamental and clinical research achievements of the NCCS and Duke-NUS teams, this collaboration holds great promise for developing innovative drugs targeting novel pathways in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. I look forward to this partnership bringing safer and more effective treatment options to kidney cancer patients worldwide in the near future, offering new hope to those with drug-resistant and advanced-stage renal cancer."

Building "Digital Twins" of Biological Systems,

Empowering Multi-Field AI Peptide Innovation

As XtalPi's platform for cutting-edge technology innovation and collaboration, the XtalPi Innovation Center focuses on the development and application of forward-looking core technologies, achieving innovative win-win outcomes and continuous technological advancement through an open cooperation model. Its V3 (Virtual in Vitro and in Vivo) platform is dedicated to building "digital twins" of biological systems at different levels by leveraging AI and big data. It has established a series of technical platforms that integrate AI algorithms with experimental approaches, including an AI peptide and protein design platform, as well as multimodal large models centered around cell phenotypes.

Currently, XtalPi's peptide R&D platform has established comprehensive R&D capabilities across the entire chain, from AI generation to automated synthesis and then to high-throughput experimental optimization, covering multiple fields such as linear peptides, cyclic peptides, bicyclic peptides, and non-natural amino acids. Its experimental team has a strong background and extensive R&D experience in both academia and the pharmaceutical industry. XtalPi's AI peptide R&D platform has been successfully applied to early drug development, peptide-based health product development, and the discovery of new functional ingredients for cosmetic peptides, driving multiple R&D projects to quickly achieve key milestones or enter the application stage. The technologies for AI peptide generation, one-bead-one-compound chemical combinatorial library screening, and mRNA display-based peptide library screening have gained high recognition from users in China and overseas, gradually building up a comprehensive peptide R&D platform with high technical barriers. Through an innovative and integrated layout, it continuously empowers original innovation and commercial transformation in the peptide field.

[1]World Health Organization. (2022). Global Cancer Observatory: Kidney [Fact sheet]. https://gco.iarc.who.int/media/globocan/factsheets/cancers/29-kidney-fact-sheet.pdf

[2]Znaor et al. (2015). International Variations and Trends in Renal Cell Carcinoma Incidence and Mortality. European Urology, 67(3), 519–530. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EURURO.2014.10.002

[3]National Cancer Institute. (2020, March). Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma. https://www.cancer.gov/pediatric-adult-rare-tumor/rare-tumors/rare-kidney-tumors/clear-cell-renal-cell-carcinoma