Insilico Medicine has announced the nomination of ISM0387, marking it as the first preclinical candidate from the UAE and the company’s 30th AI-supported candidate. This development was made possible through collaboration with the Emirates Drug Establishment and support from various local entities, including the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and the Department of Health Abu Dhabi. ISM0387 is characterized as an MTA-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitor, featuring an AI-designed structure that demonstrates enhanced in vitro activity, selectivity, and brain-penetrant properties alongside dose-dependent efficacy in relevant disease models. The candidate was identified at Insilico’s Generative AI and Quantum Computing R&D Center in Masdar City, utilizing the Chemistry42 platform and screening over 90 AI-generated candidates within a rapid six-month timeframe.

This nomination underscores a significant shift towards a technology-driven life sciences ecosystem in Abu Dhabi, highlighting the region’s commitment to fostering innovation in drug discovery. The collaborative efforts initiated earlier in 2023, particularly under the HELM cluster, have laid a strong foundation for this advancement, emphasizing the potential of AI in accelerating the drug development process. The implications of ISM0387’s development are particularly noteworthy, as it positions Insilico Medicine at the forefront of integrating AI with traditional drug discovery methodologies, potentially setting a precedent for future candidates.

The concrete implication of this development is the acceleration of drug development timelines, particularly for complex targets like PRMT5. By leveraging AI-driven platforms, researchers can streamline the lead discovery process, which traditionally spans years, into mere months. This shift not only enhances the efficiency of drug development but also opens avenues for targeting previously intractable diseases, thereby advancing the field of longevity and healthspan research significantly.

Source: longevity.technology