AI New Drug Development Startup Freely Shares Company Data to Develop COVID-19 Vaccine

Drug Development Startup Insilico Medicine

Opens Its Pharmaceutical Compound Database for Free

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jaehee] Insilico Medicine, a drug development startup based in the United States and Hong Kong, has made its pharmaceutical compound database available for free to pharmaceutical companies to accelerate the development of COVID-19 vaccines, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on the 17th.

Insilico Medicine, founded in 2014, is a startup that applies artificial intelligence (AI) technology to drug research and development (R&D). The company has significantly reduced the average drug development period, which typically takes about 15 years, to less than 3 years by utilizing AI technology.

Last week, Insilico Medicine disclosed information about the molecular structures of hundreds of compounds on its website.

This move by Insilico Medicine was made to assist global pharmaceutical companies in developing COVID-19 vaccines.

The company is currently awaiting responses from pharmaceutical companies and drug development experts, and according to SCMP, plans to collaborate with them to synthesize and test up to 100 chemical substances.

Alex Zhavoronkov, co-founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine, stated, "In the short term, repurposing existing molecules developed for treating other diseases such as AIDS can be a valid strategy."

The company announced plans to independently carry out synthesis and experimental work on 5 to 6 compounds for COVID-19 vaccine development.

CEO Zhavoronkov predicted that developing a COVID-19 vaccine would take at least one year, with even more time required for product manufacturing.