CSIR-CCMB and Aganitha Forge Strategic Alliance: New Framework Agreement to Harness Generative AI in Therapeutic Research and Design Across Various Diseases
The Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB), a premier research organization under the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), and Aganitha, a new generation in silico solutions provider, have signed today (May 29, 2024) an umbrella memorandum of understanding (MoU) to apply Generative AI solutions for designing novel therapeutics and research tools addressing needs in multiple disease areas.
This strategic collaboration aims to translate discoveries from the globally acclaimed research labs of CCMB into therapeutic candidates through the application of Aganitha’s Generative AI solutions for biopharma R&D. The initial areas of collaboration include target analysis, small molecule design, antibody and nanobody engineering for addressing Malaria, Tuberculosis (TB), and neurological disorders.
CCMB, known for its high-quality basic research and training in frontier areas of modern biology, has been actively forging alliances to accelerate biomedical research and innovation. Aganitha, on the other hand, integrates high-throughput sciences with deep learning-based generative models to solve complex drug discovery and development challenges.
Generative AI has been recognized for its potential in accelerating de novo drug design by innovatively generating potential novel drug candidates. It assesses and optimizes these compounds based on various crucial parameters such as chemical feasibility, binding affinity to specific biological targets, and toxicity profiles. This technology can accurately predict the activity of nearly 1 billion chemical compounds that can be combined to create medicines.
The collaboration will focus on Malaria and TB in its initial phase. Malaria and TB are highly prevalent infectious diseases causing significant burden worldwide. Co-infections are expected to occur frequently, especially in regions where both diseases are endemic. The study of neural antibodies in neurology is also in progress. These antibodies are considered pathogenic because they are directed against the extracellular domains of their target antigens.
This partnership between CCMB and Aganitha marks a significant step in leveraging the power of Deep Science and Deep Tech to bring novel medicines to market faster, potentially transforming the landscape of therapeutic design and research in multiple disease areas.
Dr. Puran Singh Sijwali, Senior Principal Scientist at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), underscored the critical nature of the institute’s collaboration with Aganitha in malaria research. “The battle against malaria continues to be challenging due to the pathogen’s drug resistance, the scarcity of universally accessible vaccines, and the mosquitoes’ resistance to insecticides. It is imperative that experts across disciplines join forces to innovate new medications and vaccines. In this endeavor, we are harnessing Aganitha’s Generative AI capabilities to explore the small molecules space for validated parasite drug targets, which allows us to predict, test, and refine potential antimalarial compounds,” Dr. Sijwali elaborated.
Dr. Raghunand Tirumalai, also a Senior Principal Scientist at CCMB, detailed the potential breakthroughs in tuberculosis (TB) research stemming from this partnership. “Our collaboration with Aganitha focuses on the structure-based discovery of small molecule inhibitors targeting key proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This partnership is promising and we are optimistic about its potential to yield several innovative anti-TB therapeutic leads,” he said.
Dr. Janesh Kumar, another Senior Principal Scientist at CCMB with a focus on neurotransmission in the central nervous system, highlighted a different aspect of the collaboration. “Our joint initiative with Aganitha to develop nanobody binders for a class of neurotransmitter receptors known as GluD1 receptors represents a significant advancement in neuroscience and pharmacology. These nanobodies could serve as precise molecular tools to influence GluD1 receptor activity, opening up new therapeutic possibilities for neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy,” Dr. Kumar noted.
Nanobodies, due to their small size and high specificity, are extremely promising for targeted drug delivery and imaging applications, which paves the way for personalized treatments with fewer side effects.
Dr. Vinay Nandicoori, Director of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), emphasized the strategic nature of the partnership with Aganitha. “This collaboration is forward-looking, leveraging CCMB’s expertise in fundamental disease biology research alongside Aganitha’s innovative AI-driven solutions. It is a timely initiative, enabling us to translate our laboratory discoveries into practical, real-world applications,” Dr. Nandicoori remarked.
Mr. Prasad Chodavarapu, co-founder and Managing Director of Aganitha, highlighted the significance of the partnership between CCMB and Aganitha as an exemplary model of academia-industry collaboration. “At Aganitha, we are driven by the chance to make a substantial and enduring impact on society through our work. Our team, adept in multi-scale systems biology, quantum chemistry, and Generative AI, is seizing the opportunity to harness the ongoing synergy between deep science and deep technology. This collaboration not only fuels our excitement but also marks an important step towards building a robust, dynamic ecosystem of science and technology in Hyderabad and beyond in India. We eagerly anticipate further such collaborative ventures,” he stated.
– Rashmi Kumari
