Manas AI has officially announced its entrance into the pharmaceutical sector, specifically aimed at revolutionising the discovery of new cancer medicines. This ambitious initiative is the product of collaboration with Microsoft and a team composed of multidisciplinary scientists, positioning the company to challenge and potentially reshape the traditional therapeutic discovery model.
Co-founded by oncologist and author Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee alongside investor and entrepreneur Reid Hoffman, Manas AI is integrating cutting-edge technologies into its operations. These include molecular docking, generative computational chemistry, and advanced biology techniques, all designed to create a comprehensive pipeline for therapeutic development that spans from target detection to the clinical trial phase.
A significant aspect of Manas AI’s strategy is its partnership with Microsoft, under which the company will harness the power of Microsoft Azure. This cloud computing platform enables molecular docking processes at speeds that are reported to be up to 100 times faster than those available through conventional systems. Additionally, Manas AI is engaged in an AI-powered initiative aimed at mapping the core binding rules of drugs, a move intended to accelerate the detection of new chemical entities.
In its initial stages, Manas AI is prioritising oncology, with a specific focus on developing treatments for aggressive malignancies such as prostate cancer, lymphoma, and triple-negative breast cancer. Speaking about the potential impact of their work, co-founder Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee commented: “Through the power of AI and our world-class team, we believe we can drastically reduce the time and cost it takes to bring game-changing new treatments to patients. I am particularly excited about the novel models for generative chemistry that Manas is developing. If these generative models work, we aspire to replace conventional experimental methods to create medicines.”
To further advance its AI-driven drug discovery programmes, Manas AI has successfully secured $24.6 million in funding. The funding round was led by General Catalyst, accompanied by participation from Greylock and other investors from both the life sciences and technology sectors. The capital raised will be allocated towards scaling Manas AI's AI platform, advancing its pipeline of drug candidates, and facilitating the global expansion of its clinical programmes.
As the landscape of pharmaceutical development continues to evolve with advancements in AI technology, Manas AI is positioning itself as a key player in the fight against cancer, with the potential for significant impact on future treatment protocols and patient outcomes.
Source: Noah Wire Services