Israeli startup CytoReason today announced a partnership with Swiss multinational, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, to establish new treatments for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). 

This is the first collaboration between the two companies, pairing Ferring’s medical expertise with CytoReason’s artificial intelligence (AI) platform to build cell-centred disease models. 

CytoReason is developing a computational model of the human body, which has the potential to help Ferring accelerate drug discovery while reducing costs. Leveraging a library of both public and proprietary molecular data, CytoReason’s technology allows scientists to gain critical information on the body’s functioning, and address diseases such as IBD at the cellular level.  

WHY IT MATTERS 

IBD is a lifelong, chronic disease that affects the digestive system, and includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The disease affects up to 15% of the world population and bouts can last for days, weeks or months at a time.

By the end of this collaboration, CytoReason intends to present insights on the top drug targets in order to provide new therapeutic options for IBD patients. 

CytoReason’s computational model of the human body simulates human disease on a cellular level, minimises the need for animal trials, and makes human trials more focused and accurate over time.  

THE LARGER CONTEXT 

Pharma companies are increasingly using AI to improve the expensive and time-consuming process of drug discovery.

Six of the world’s top 10 pharma firms use CytoReason’s technology, including Roche, Pfizer and GSK.

French AI startup Iktos recently announced it is collaborating with drug discovery firm Facio Therapies, to design treatment for the skeletal muscle wasting condition facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD). Iktos has also previously partnered with Germany science and technology multinational Merck KGaA, Spanish skin-focused pharma firm Almirall and US pharma giant Pfizer.

ON THE RECORD 

David Harel, CEO and cofounder of CytoReason, said: “We are very excited to be working with the talented team at Ferring. Their expertise in gastroenterology, immunology and translational medicine will allow us to better understand the complex nature of IBD, and in turn, to create more accurate models of the disease with our AI technology. 

“Our platform will enable Ferring to significantly shorten drug discovery time for IBD medication, dramatically reduce the costs involved, and ultimately help more patients who suffer from the chronic disease.”

Araz Raoof, president of Ferring Research Institute and Senior VP global drug discovery and external innovation at Ferring Pharmaceuticals, said: “We are excited to tap into CytoReason’s machine learning/AI capabilities and proprietary cell-based disease models in our transformational medicines journey. This collaboration will bring forward novel and innovative therapeutic options to address the significant unmet medical needs that still exist for IBD patients.”