Avalon GloboCare Corp (NASDAQ:AVCO) announced that it has further advanced its research to accurately predict the 3-dimensional structures of protein receptors for potential use as cellular therapy targets, in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The Toronto-based company collaborated with the institute to combine its artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced protein design ‘QTY Code’ technology with Google’s AlphaFold2, a DeepMind AI program developed to predict 3D protein structures of previously difficult to work with drug targets. This new system is designed to accelerate and advance Avalon’s capabilities in developing novel targets for immuno-oncology and cellular medicine.
The newly published study demonstrated the utility and efficiency of combining the two AI-based technologies. The researchers used the QTY code technology to design water-soluble versions of chemokine receptors—water-insoluble proteins involved in cytokine storms, cancer, autoimmune diseases, and important drug targets—and then used AlphaFold to accurately predict the structures of these clinically important proteins.
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“This new study with our collaborator, Shuguang Zhang from MIT, has validated the innovative application of the QTY code technology to transform important cellular therapy targets that have been previously difficult to work within the laboratory,” said David Jin CEO of Avalon in a statement.
“This new approach is advancing our capabilities in designing novel immuno-oncology and cellular medicine therapies and we are excited to continue to work with Zhang to advance these drug development technologies," he added.
The program has already successfully generated a series of decoy receptors, which function to soak up excess chemokines and cytokines produced in the body during a potentially fatal ‘cytokine storm.’ These cytokine storms can occur in patients with coronavirus (COVID-19) and in cancer patients being treated with CAR T-cell therapy.
The study of the new dual technology application was published in the November 2021 issue of Life, an international, peer-reviewed, open-access life sciences journal.
The QTY Code breakthrough technology, developed by Avalon and the laboratory of Shuguang Zhang of MIT’s Media lab in Boston is a protein-design platform that can turn water-insoluble transmembrane receptor proteins into water-soluble proteins, enabling their use in many clinical applications, including drug development.
Avalon GloboCare is a clinical-stage, vertically integrated, leading CellTech bio-developer dedicated to advancing and empowering innovative, transformative immune effector cell therapy, exosome technology, as well as coronavirus (COVID-19) related diagnostics and therapeutics.
The company also provides strategic advisory and outsourcing services to facilitate and enhance its clients' growth and development, as well as competitiveness in healthcare and CellTech industry markets.
Contact Ritika at ritika@proactiveinvestors.com