A groundbreaking initiative to transform antibody drug development through artificial intelligence has been launched by AION Labs, marking a significant advancement in pharmaceutical research and development. The Israel-based innovation lab, in partnership with German research institute BioMed X, has announced its third global call for applications to establish a new startup focused on AI-driven antibody optimization.
Major Pharmaceutical Alliance
The initiative brings together an unprecedented alliance of pharmaceutical giants, including AstraZeneca, Merck, Pfizer, and Teva, alongside the Israel Biotech Fund. Amazon Web Services (AWS) joins as a strategic partner, providing technical support for the venture.
Noga Yerushalmi, investment director at M Ventures, explains the unique circumstances that led to this collaboration: "We are more friends than anything else. So, it became quite natural for us to decide not to compete but instead join forces." This cooperative approach emerged from initial competitive positions, ultimately leading to a shared vision for addressing industry-wide challenges.
Revolutionary Approach to Antibody Development
The new startup will focus on developing a next-generation computational platform that leverages AI algorithms to enhance existing antibodies while streamlining the development process. Traditional antibody therapy development, while effective, has historically been time-consuming and resource-intensive, often requiring significant investment without guaranteed success.
"If this can be done computationally instead of experimentally, testing all those things, or at least take a lot of compounds and filter them to the ones that are applicable, that could shorten the development stage of new antibodies dramatically," Yerushalmi explains.
AI-Powered Innovation
The platform will aim to predict crucial antibody characteristics including:
- Developability and manufacturability
- Stability and aggregation
- Immunogenicity
- Pharmacokinetics
- Tissue distribution
This computational approach represents a significant shift from traditional laboratory-based testing methods, potentially reducing development timelines and costs while improving success rates.
Unprecedented Data Access
A key advantage for the selected startup will be access to extensive datasets from all participating pharmaceutical companies. This wealth of information will enable more accurate AI model training and prediction capabilities.
"The start-ups can eventually work with each individual pharma separately, which can bring benefit to everybody. We don't impose any prior rights except for equity because we give an investment," Yerushalmi notes.
Global Talent Search
AION Labs is seeking diverse expertise, including:
- Computational biologists
- Bioinformatics specialists
- Cheminformatics scientists
- AI researchers
- Antibody engineers
- Protein engineering experts
The initiative emphasizes that innovative thinking from various disciplines could provide valuable perspectives. "The call is aimed not just at attracting biologists or immunologists. Even if you come, not from the discipline of pharma, but you have good ideas on how to implement algorithms and computation of work, that can open new horizons," says Yerushalmi.
Patient-Centered Impact
The ultimate goal of this initiative extends beyond technological advancement. "We want to help humanity and if AI tools, if any computational tool, can expedite that and make the process cheaper, faster, and easier, it will be helpful for patients, which is the main goal," Yerushalmi emphasizes.
Applications for this innovative program will be accepted until April 10, with selected candidates receiving full funding and support to establish their startup within the AION Labs ecosystem.
