Powered by artificial intelligence.."Emirates Medicine" Announces the development of the first locally discovered drug candidate

Dubai, April 23 / WAM / The Emirates Pharmaceutical Corporation announced the development of a research team at Insilico Medicine, the first drug candidate to be discovered and developed entirely within the country using artificial intelligence techniques, in a scientific achievement bearing the imprint of “Made in the Emirates”.

This step reflects a qualitative shift in the UAE’s position within the global innovation scene, from adopting advanced technologies to employing them in producing pharmaceutical solutions based on knowledge and intellectual property.

This candidate takes the form of the compound ISM0387, which is an advanced inhibitor of the PRMT5 enzyme and works according to the principle of artificial targeting of tumors associated with deletion of the MTAP gene, which enhances its effectiveness against cancer cells selectively and reduces the effect on healthy cells.

The candidate shows promising potential in targeting solid tumors, especially aggressive brain tumors, which are among the most treatment-resistant tumors, with advanced properties that allow efficient penetration of the blood-brain barrier, in addition to strong, dose-dependent effectiveness in inhibiting the growth of tumors in preclinical models, as experiments demonstrated a clear inhibition of tumor growth when given at a daily dose of 30 mg/kg for 20 days in animal models, which enhances indications of its potential for development in subsequent clinical stages, and increases the chances of its use in diseases. Associated with the central nervous system.

It was developed using the Chemistry42 platform of Insilico Medicine, which relies on more than 40 generative models to analyze biological and chemical data, within a research process that was completely implemented in the Emirates, starting from identifying the biological target, through designing and improving molecules, all the way to selecting the final candidate for the pre-clinical stage (PCC), which reflects the country’s capabilities in implementing the entire drug discovery chain according to global standards.

This achievement represents a practical model of the ability of generative artificial intelligence to reduce drug development time, as the team completed the compound discovery phase in only about 6 months, by generating and evaluating more than 90 candidate compounds using artificial intelligence models, compared to traditional models that may take more than four years at this stage alone.

The entire path from designing a molecule to its selection as a drug candidate was carried out in less than 12 months, while this process traditionally extends for more than a decade, and at a cost that may exceed a billion dollars to develop a single drug.

This research project is the result of research efforts led by Insilico, and an extension of an ongoing strategic partnership with the Emirates Pharmaceutical Corporation, which has worked, through its regulatory frameworks, to create a flexible environment that enables innovation, within a broader national framework that included developing an advanced infrastructure for biotechnology, and strengthening partnerships with national authorities in the country.

His Excellency Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajri, Minister of State and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Pharmaceutical Corporation, confirmed that this acquisition consolidates the UAE’s presence in global value chains for bioindustries, by developing knowledge-based production capabilities, thus enhancing its role as an active partner in the production of pharmaceutical solutions and expanding the scope of its influence at the global level.

His Excellency said that this development reflects the maturity of a national model based on the integration of scientific research with regulatory and investment policies, which enables accelerating the transformation of scientific discoveries into industrial applications, and supports building a system capable of competing in vital, high-value sectors.

For her part, Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi, Director General of the Emirates Drug Corporation, confirmed that what has been achieved is not an isolated research achievement, but rather an embodiment of an institutional capacity to develop medicines within the country, based on integrating modern technologies at the core of discovery and transforming data into accurate and rapid development decisions that reduce time and cost and increase the accuracy of results.

She stated that this achievement is not limited to developing innovative therapeutic solutions, but rather reflects the building of a sustainable national system that redefines the concept of drug security from ensuring availability to possessing the ability to develop it and continue its flow, in a way that enhances the health system’s readiness and ability to deal with changes.

Dr. Sheikha Al Mazrouei, Director of the Research and Laboratories Department at the Emirates Pharmaceutical Corporation, explained that the cooperation between the Corporation and the company allows the use of generative models and reinforced learning to analyze biological, chemical and clinical data, which supports the development of more accurate compounds in terms of effectiveness and safety.

Dr. Alex Aliper, co-founder and president of Insilico Medicine, said: “This achievement represents a turning point in the path of global drug development, and reflects the effectiveness of generative models in developing drug discovery methodologies, by reducing time and bypassing traditional complexities,” noting that what has been achieved in the UAE proves that environments that invest in research infrastructure and advanced technologies are capable of producing therapeutic solutions with global standards and in record time.

This achievement carries a humanitarian dimension, which is to open new horizons for patients to obtain more accurate and effective treatment options in the future, and reflects the efficiency of the national system in transforming advanced technologies into pharmaceutical assets of scientific and economic value, thus enhancing drug security and consolidating the UAE’s position as an effective center in the pharmaceutical industries based on knowledge and innovation.

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