Artificial Intelligence Biotech Company, Insilico Medicine, has reportedly entered the first phase of its clinical trials for the ISM5411. The company's AI-designed medicine to treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), a disease that presently has no cure and very few treatments.
According to Alex Zhavoronkov, PhD, founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine, if licensed, it would be the first drug to treat IBD by inhibiting prolyl hydroxylase domain (PHD), a protein that controls the body's genes that defend the intestinal barrier.
Majority of present IBD medications are anti-inflammatory and require immunosuppression to function thus the report states there are hazards associated with this approach, as immune system suppression can lead to malignant illnesses and persistent infections. While other biologics used to treat IBD are given intravenously (IV) or by self-injection.
Zhavoronkov then concluded that rather than only treating the symptoms, there is a critical need for a novel medication against IBD that focuses on repairing and rebuilding the intestinal lining in order to result in long-term improvement of the illness.
The CEO mentioned that ISM5411, an oral drug, is classified as intestinal restrictive, which means it solely affects the gastrointestinal tract and has no effect on other body regions. Most notably, it aids in the restoration of normal gastrointestinal function by promoting mucosal healing.
In order to assess the safety and tolerability of Insilico's IBD medication at progressively higher dosages, 76 healthy volunteers in Australia have formally started the trial process. Following the Phase 1 trial's conclusion, Insilico intends to start a global multi-center clinical trial with three treatment groups and one placebo group in the United States, China, and other countries.
Chemistry42, ChatGPT for Molecules
As per the report, the specific AI model that the company utilized to create the drug was Chemistry42, an AI engine comparable to ChatGPT that is meant to design new molecules as per the authors' directions and instructions.
The AI platform that was used created and ranked several potential compounds that could satisfy the firm's requirements. After that, the company's research and development team created and examined a variety of potential compounds, ultimately deciding that ISM5411 was the most likely contender.
AI Boom in Pharmaceutics
Insilico Medicine is reportedly a leading AI drug discovery firm that has fueled the identification and development of an internal pipeline of over 30 novel compounds for cancer, neurological disorders of the central nervous system, and COVID-19 and its derivatives.
Several of these compounds are currently in clinical phases of development. The company's primary medication, for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic, uncommon lung disease, is the first medication created using AI for a target that was found using AI to enter Phase II clinical trials involving human subjects.
According to Bloomberg, AI is a trend that is only expected to develop in the pharmaceutical business. However, there is currently insufficient evidence to support the claim that AI medicines may save lives. Numerous prior industry-leading chemicals that relied on AI have encountered challenges, and it may take several years for Insilico's numerous products to reach the market or fail during development.
The paper stressed that, in spite of this uncertainty, any breakthrough would have far-reaching effects, opening the door for new, less costly AI treatments that might save lives and lower costs for healthcare systems.
