Atomwise , a leader in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for small molecule drug discovery, announced a partnership with FutuRx , a renowned biotechnology incubator based in Israel, focused on innovative therapeutic technologies in the early stages. The collaboration will serve as the first introduction of Atomwise's AtomNet® platform for AI-based drug discovery to a growing center for biotechnology innovation in Israel and is Atomwise's second partnership with a global incubation center.

Founded through a joint investment between Johnson & Johnson Innovation (JJDC, Inc.), Takeda Ventures Inc. , OrbiMed Israel Partners , FutuRx has formed more than 20 early-stage companies in partnership with the Israel Innovation Authority and transformed discoveries most important in novel drugs. Recently, Leaps by Bayer has joined as a new investor along with the founding investors of FutuRx to start and incubate early stage biotech companies. A2i Therapeutics' short-term research activities will be funded by capital contributions from the Israel Innovation Authority, FutuRx investors, and resources and in-kind support provided by Atomwise.

As part of the strategic partnership, Atomwise will work closely with the FutuRx leadership team, investors and incubation portfolio companies to apply its AI technology to early stage drug discovery projects. Atomwise and FutuRx have announced their first joint venture, A2i Therapeutics, with seed funding to leverage Atomwise's AI platform to target a key protein involved in the control of the innate immune response and potentially a key immuno-oncology target. Atomwise's AI platform, AtomNet®, can browse more than 16.

"FutuRx is excited to launch a new bioconvergence company alongside a world leader in AI-based drug discovery," said Kinneret Savitzky, PhD, CEO of FutuRx. "Atomwise brings a legacy of collaboration and innovation in small molecule drug discovery to our network of leading experts from multinational pharmaceutical companies and venture capital. We are pleased that our partnership with Atomwise introduces its innovative AI platform for drug discovery. drugs to startups and emerging biotech companies in Israel, "he adds.

"The Israel Innovation Authority is leading Israel's bioconvergence strategy and is pleased that FutuRx is once again joining this initiative together with its new partner Atomwise," says Anya Eldan, Vice President of the Innovation Authority and Head of the Division of emerging companies. "Atomwise is at the forefront of AI-powered drug discovery, and this partnership with FutuRx will help achieve difficult disease targets and significantly boost Israel's AI drug discovery and bioconvergence ecosystem," he concludes.

FutuRx now joins Atomwise's growing network of investors and corporate associations, which today represents a collective agreement value close to $ 7 billion. Since its founding, Atomwise has built a strong portfolio of joint ventures and partnerships with biotech startups and leading-edge pharmaceutical and agrochemical companies.

In April 2020, Atomwise expanded its strategic partnership with Hansoh Pharma , one of China's leading biopharmaceutical companies, after successfully completing its first successful discovery collaboration that identified specific active compounds for an intractable drug target. This announcement came on the heels of another extended collaboration earlier this year with Bayer to continue the development of two crop protection programs. As part of this strategic collaboration, Atomwise is helping Bayer increase the speed and likelihood of discovering and developing new health products through AI.

"We are delighted to see Atomwise, a Leaps by Bayer holding company, collaborating with FutuRx in new frontiers to address our common goal of curing and preventing cancer," said Dr. Juergen Eckhardt, Leaps by Bayer Director.

About FutuRx

FutuRx is Israel's leading biotechnology incubator, established in 2014 by Johnson & Johnson Innovation (JJDC, Inc.), OrbiMed Israel Partners and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, through their Takeda Ventures Inc. group of companies, after winning a tender from the Israel Innovation Authority. Recently, Bayer has joined FutuRx as a strategic investor through its corporate company LEAPS. The incubator is focused on early-stage and innovative therapeutic technologies, and has established 23 companies to date. For more information on FutuRx, visit https://www.futurx.co.il .

About Atomwise

Atomwise is revolutionizing the way AI drugs are discovered. We implemented the use of deep learning for structure-based drug discovery, which has led us to develop today a line of small molecule drug candidates advancing to preclinical studies. Our AtomNet® technology has been used to unlock more non-drug targets than any other AI drug discovery platform to date. We are addressing more than 600 unique disease targets through 775 collaborations spanning more than 250 partners around the world. Our portfolio of joint ventures and partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies, Emerging agrochemicals and biotechnologies represents a collective agreement value approaching $ 7 billion. Atomwise has raised more than $ 174 million from leading venture capital firms to advance our mission to make better drugs - and do it faster. Learn more atatomwise.com or follow @AtomwiseInc.

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Contacts
Atomwise Contact:
Sara Agee Le, PhD
Vice President of Marketing and Communications
media@atomwise.com
investors@atomwise.com

 

Source: businesswire.com

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