Tokyo-based AI drug discovery company Elix, Inc. and PRISM BioLab Co. Ltd. announced a strategic partnership effective April 1, 2025, aimed at accelerating research on challenging protein-protein interaction (PPI) targets by combining their complementary technologies.
The collaboration integrates Elix's AI drug discovery platform "Elix Discovery™" with PRISM BioLab's proprietary small molecule peptide-mimetic technology "PepMetics®" to expand the scope of AI-driven exploration to previously unconsidered small molecules, potentially transforming the approach to traditionally difficult drug targets.
Addressing Key Drug Discovery Challenges
Drug discovery traditionally requires synthesizing hundreds to thousands of compounds to generate a single clinical candidate, making research efficiency a critical challenge in pharmaceutical development. This partnership specifically targets protein-protein interactions, which have historically been considered "undruggable" targets with conventional small molecule approaches.
PRISM BioLab's PepMetics® technology creates unique small molecules that mimic three-dimensional structures of alpha-helix and beta-turn peptides—structures commonly found in protein-protein interaction interfaces. When combined with Elix's artificial intelligence capabilities, the partnership aims to identify promising compounds more efficiently and accelerate breakthrough drug candidate creation.
Proven Success Through Pilot Collaboration
Prior to formalizing their partnership, the companies conducted a pilot project where Elix utilized AI-driven compound design strategies based on molecular structures provided by PRISM BioLab. This collaboration successfully identified novel hit compounds that differed entirely from those achieved using conventional approaches.
Dr. Shinya Yuki, co-founder and CEO of Elix, highlighted the significance of these early results: "Through a successful pilot project with PRISM BioLab, we achieved breakthrough results by creating novel compound candidates with an efficiency that would be unimaginable using conventional approaches. That experience clearly demonstrated that the combination of our companies' technologies and expertise holds tremendous potential in drug discovery."
Complementary Technological Strengths
The partnership leverages distinct technological advantages from each company. PRISM BioLab's PepMetics® technology has already demonstrated clinical potential, with compounds targeting CBP/beta-catenin PPIs currently in clinical development for cancer and liver disease through licensing agreements with Eisai Co., Ltd. and Ohara Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Dr. Tatsuya Toma, CTO of PRISM BioLab, emphasized the technological compatibility: "Our PepMetics® technology has characteristics that are highly compatible with AI applications. Elix is not only a professional in AI and machine learning but also expanding their knowledge and understanding of drug discovery while maintaining a flexible corporate culture."
Dr. Tasuku Ishida, Lead Scientist at Elix, addressed the scientific challenges: "The development of protein-protein interaction inhibitors is highly challenging, with only a limited number of successful cases to date. By combining PepMetics®, which mimics key protein substructures using small molecules, and AI-powered drug discovery capability of Elix Discovery™, we will continue to make every effort to overcome drug discovery challenges that would be difficult to achieve independently."
Potential Impact on Multiple Disease Areas
The collaboration targets multiple therapeutic areas with significant unmet medical needs, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, and fibrosis. PRISM BioLab's technology holds particular promise for expanding the field of drug discovery by turning previously undruggable PPIs into viable targets and potentially generating oral small molecule alternatives for injectable biologics.
Dai Takehara, CEO of PRISM BioLab, expressed optimism about the partnership's potential: "As we challenge ourselves to 'create new areas of drug discovery' with peptide-mimetic small molecules, AI utilization is essential. We expect our efforts to be significantly accelerated through collaboration with Elix, whose mission is to 'rethink drug discovery.'"
Efficiency and Innovation Focus
Both companies emphasize that the partnership aims to reduce the time and costs associated with drug discovery while improving success rates. By leveraging their complementary AI capabilities and medicinal chemistry expertise, they seek to deliver innovative treatments for unmet medical needs more efficiently than either company could achieve independently.
The collaboration represents a growing trend in pharmaceutical research where specialized technology platforms combine with artificial intelligence to overcome longstanding challenges in drug development, potentially opening new therapeutic possibilities for patients with limited treatment options.
