Turbine, a computational biology company specializing in empirically validated in silico cell simulations for guiding biopharmaceutical research and development, has announced a collaborative partnership with Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, based in Osaka, Japan. This collaboration aims to identify and validate novel targets within one of Ono's priority areas of cancer biology.

As per the agreement's terms, Turbine will leverage its end-to-end, interpretable cell simulation technology, known as the Simulated Cell™ platform, to discover novel therapeutic targets using in silico methods. Turbine will also conduct in vitro mechanism validation of these identified targets within its advanced laboratory facility and manage in vivo validation studies. In return, Turbine will receive payments upon the agreement's execution and upon the completion of the target identification process on its platform, which includes both in vitro and in vivo validation. Furthermore, Turbine is eligible for milestone payments tied to the progress of drug development and commercialization by Ono.

Turbine, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, noting Ono's history of developing groundbreaking cancer therapies, such as Opdivo (nivolumab), the first approved PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor. Nagy believes that Turbine's state-of-the-art cell simulation technology will facilitate the discovery of additional targets to enhance Ono's oncology portfolio. He also emphasized the value of their Simulated Cells™ and proprietary validation assays in not only validating computational predictions but also advancing the predictiveness of human biology simulations.

Ono, commended Turbine's AI-driven cell simulation platform for uncovering novel therapeutic targets that traditional approaches might miss. He also highlighted that Turbine's platform would provide valuable insights into target mechanisms and biomarkers, which could expedite Ono's drug development efforts. Through this collaboration, both companies are dedicated to expanding their oncology development pipeline and offering new therapeutic options to cancer patients with unmet medical needs.

 

Source: businesswire.com

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