CDRD Builds Artificial Intelligence Capabilities through New Partnership with SchröDinger Inc.
Drug discovery and development is a long, expensive and complicated process
CDRD, Canada’s national Centre for Drug Research and Development and Schrödinger Inc., a privately-held company dedicated to revolutionizing drug discovery through advanced computational methods, announced today that they have established a collaboration to use artificial intelligence (AI) to help facilitate the development of new therapeutic antibodies.
Drug discovery and development is a long, expensive and complicated process that requires many partners with specialized expertise to advance a potential drug candidate into the clinic. Because of the tremendous resources required and inherent high failure rates in drug development, we need to be more efficient wherever possible and utilize cutting-edge technologies to help us process data faster and more accurately. Artificial intelligence is one such technology.
CDRD will be using Schrodinger’s AI and predictive modelling software to develop high-quality humanized antibodies with ideal biophysical characteristics more efficiently and effectively than traditional methods. Specifically, Schrödinger will provide its biologics modeling technology to triage and help prioritization through prediction of physico-chemical liabilities, as well as to support antibody humanization via structure based computational approaches. CDRD will provide a portfolio of antibodies specific to a particular target, as well as accompanying key molecular and physicochemical lab measurements. The British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA) will provide critical biological data for the initial project which will involve an immune checkpoint target that is present on cancer stem cells.
“We’re excited to work with CDRD to aggressively translate scientific discoveries into innovative therapeutic products,” said Dr. Ramy Farid, Schrödinger’s President and CEO. “This partnership is an important step forward in our efforts to extend the successes we’ve had in small molecule drug discovery to the development of novel biologics.”
“Schrödinger is a leader in applying AI to small molecule drug discovery; so we are excited to be a part of this unique collaboration to leverage those capabilities to now also develop biologics more efficiently and expeditiously,” said Gordon C. McCauley, CDRD’s President and CEO. “This collaboration also highlights the importance of CDRD’s collaborative approach in bringing together partners from academia, in this case, BCCA and industry as we work to advance groundbreaking research from bench to bedside.”
About Schrodinger Inc.:
Schrödinger is a leading provider of advanced molecular simulations and enterprise software solutions and services to accelerate and increase the efficiency of drug discovery for its clients, which include all major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide, as well as leading materials science researchers. Schrödinger also establishes deep partnerships and collaborations with companies in such fields as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and electronics, and was a cofounder of leading biotech companies including Nimbus Therapeutics, Morphic Therapeutic, and others. Schrödinger’s investors include David E. Shaw and Bill Gates. Through significant long-term investments in basic research, Schrödinger has made scientific breakthroughs across many areas of drug discovery and materials science. Hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific publications by Schrödinger scientists are frequently among the most heavily cited in their fields. Founded in 1990, Schrödinger has over 300 employees and operations in the United States, Europe, Japan, and India, as well as business partners in China and Korea. For more information, please visit www.schrodinger.com.
About CDRD (The Centre for Drug Research and Development):
CDRD, Canada’s national Centre for Drug Research and Development, is a global bridge that translates discoveries into innovative therapeutic products and improved health outcomes. In collaboration with our partners in academia, industry, government and foundations, we identify and advance promising discoveries and transform them into validated investments – all while uniquely training the next generation of highly-qualified personnel to drive the development of the innovations of tomorrow. www.cdrd.ca