Singapore-based Engine Biosciences and the Experimental Drug Development Centre (EDDC) announced a groundbreaking partnership aimed at developing first-in-class precision therapeutics for multiple cancer types prevalent both in Singapore and globally. This first-ever collaboration between the two organizations will leverage complementary technologies and expertise to create targeted cancer treatments.
The partnership unites Engine's proprietary NetMAPPR platform with EDDC's drug discovery and development capabilities to address significant unmet needs in oncology. EDDC, Singapore's national platform for drug discovery and development, is hosted by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).
ENB-871: First Target in Collaborative Pipeline
The initial focus of the partnership is ENB-871, a novel pairing of a drug target and patient selection biomarkers discovered through Engine's NetMAPPR platform. This AI-powered platform integrates computation, biology, and chemistry to identify and validate drug targets with strong clinical and commercial potential.
The ENB-871 program shows particular promise for treating tumors with specific genetic mutations that predict sensitivity to targeted therapy. These include breast, liver, kidney, and prostate cancers—diseases affecting large and growing patient populations globally. The potential addressable population exceeds 500,000 patients annually.
"We're excited by the synergies created by bringing together our two platforms, leveraging first-in-class Singapore research and innovation to advance transformative cancer therapies," said Jeffrey Lu, CEO and Co-Founder of Engine Biosciences. "This marks another key step in Engine's mission to develop more effective, targeted and safer drugs for cancer patients."
Developing Small Molecule Degraders
The collaborative teams will focus on developing small molecule degraders targeting ENB-871, including demonstration of in vivo efficacy. Small molecule degraders represent an innovative therapeutic approach that can selectively eliminate disease-causing proteins by harnessing the cell's natural protein degradation machinery.
By combining Engine's translational insights with EDDC's expertise in designing and developing therapies, the partnership aims to create cancer treatments tailored to patients' specific profiles, potentially improving treatment effectiveness and outcomes.
Precision Medicine Approach
The collaboration emphasizes a precision medicine strategy, using biomarkers to identify patients most likely to benefit from targeted therapies. This approach contrasts with traditional one-size-fits-all cancer treatments by matching therapies to the specific genetic profile of a patient's tumor.
"The future of drug development lies in precision-driven innovation," shared Damian O'Connell, CEO of EDDC. "Our partnership with Engine enables us to develop therapies tailored to specific patient populations through Engine's biomarker-driven patient selection approaches. We are particularly excited to launch our first collaborative project around monovalent small molecule degraders, building on EDDC's expanding capabilities in this field."
Expanding Collaborative Potential
Beyond the initial ENB-871 program, Engine and EDDC may identify additional drug targets and research programs for collaboration during the partnership. This flexibility allows the organizations to expand their joint efforts as new opportunities emerge.
The partnership represents a significant advancement in Singapore's growing biomedical ecosystem, bringing together complementary strengths to address critical healthcare challenges. By combining Engine's computational and biological insights with EDDC's drug development expertise, the collaboration aims to accelerate the development of novel cancer therapies with global impact.
For Engine Biosciences, a venture-backed company with operations in both Singapore and Silicon Valley, the partnership furthers its mission to develop impactful precision medicines by deciphering complex biology. The company has built particular depth in oncology over several years of substantial investment and focus.
EDDC, formed in 2019 through the integration of several research centers, works collaboratively with public sector and industry partners to translate Singapore's biomedical and clinical sciences R&D into innovative healthcare solutions. This partnership with Engine Biosciences represents an important step in fulfilling its mission to develop therapeutics that improve patients' lives in Singapore, Asia, and worldwide.
