Poolbeg Pharma PLC (AIM:POLB, OTCQB:POLBF) said it has completed a new artificial intelligence (AI) model to deliver the first clinically meaningful analysis of its unique human challenge trial data in the first half of next year, with the aim of identifying novel influenza drug targets.
The infectious disease company said construction of the computational AI influenza disease model has been completed by CytoReason.
CytoReason, which is used by five of the world’s top ten pharma companies, including Pfizer, Sanofi, Roche and Merck, has used the unique data to build a tailored AI model that should enable Poolbeg to identify the most promising drug targets to treat disease.
The Tel Aviv-based tech company said it should be able to potentially identify drug targets in a much shorter time-frame and more cost effectively than with traditional analysis and drug discovery techniques.
That it is CytoReason’s first AI model in infectious diseases “further testifies to the value of this data”, noted Poolbeg.
The AIM-listed company said it plans to source drugs with existing Phase I safety data that, in line with its capital-light business model, can immediately continue clinical development to rapidly generate early human proof of concept data for flu, with the ultimate aim of monetising the asset through partnerships and licensing deals.
In a statement, Poolbeg chief executive Jeremy Skillington said: “Completion of this first stage of development demonstrates yet another milestone reached in the company's stated R&D strategy and brings us one step closer to realising the significant opportunities that arise from this partnership.
“There is a growing focus on AI-discovered drug targets within the industry and we are assessing interest in collaboration opportunities for our AI-enabled novel targets which we expect in Q2 2023 from this programme.”