Poolbeg Pharma PLC (AIM:POLB, OTCQB:POLBF) said researchers have identified "multiple" drug targets for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) using artificial intelligence.
RSV is a cold-like condition to which young children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable. Currently, it is poorly treated.
AI technology developed by OneThree Biotech was used to "interrogate" RSV human challenge data held by Poolbeg.
Having found the drug targets, the task is now to find small-molecule inhibitors that might treat RSV.
Poolbeg said its team was "particularly excited" as, among the potential candidates, are known drugs that already have phase I safety and tolerability read-outs.
“Prioritisation of compounds with existing phase I data aligns with Poolbeg's capital-light model as these compounds will have extensive nonclinical and clinical data allowing a smooth transition to early human efficacy trials,” Poolbeg told investors.
While the selection of drugs candidates is traditionally a long and extensive process, AI research can be completed in a matter of weeks, the market was told.
As such, this stage of pre-clinical R&D should be completed by the end of the year.
"This is the first time that AI has been used to identify disease targets in RSV and I am delighted to have reached this significant milestone in the programme in such a short period of time,” said Poolbeg chief executive Jeremy Skillington.
“Having identified these novel disease targets, we can now commence the final stage of the programme to identify effective drug candidates to treat RSV.
“In keeping with our capital-light model, this AI-enabled in silico R&D approach has significantly accelerated the discovery process by having the right partners and the right expertise to unleash the potential of our unique human challenge trial data. We greatly look forward to seeing the outputs of this programme later this year."