Iktos and Cube Biotech have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at discovering novel small molecule agonists of the Amylin Receptor, a target of interest for addressing unmet needs in cardiometabolic disorders.
This partnership integrates Iktos's artificial intelligence-driven drug discovery and robotic synthesis platform with Cube Biotech's advanced membrane protein technology, NativeMPTM, alongside their expertise in purification and biophysical assay development.
The goal is to accelerate the development of new therapies that could offer scalable and effective treatments for conditions like obesity, diabetes, and insulin resistance liver disease.
Yann Gaston-Mathé, Co-founder and CEO of Iktos, commented on the collaboration: "By tackling one of the most pressing unmet needs in cardiometabolic disorders, our partnership with Cube Biotech aims to discover improved treatments for patients affected by obesity, diabetes, and related conditions. We are excited to add the Amylin Receptor to our pipeline as this complex, yet promising target demands innovation at every stage. We see this collaboration as a foundation for future initiatives, extending the reach of our combined platform to address the most challenging membrane targets for the benefit of our pharma partners."
The Amylin Receptor is seen as a significant therapeutic target due to its role in regulating appetite and satiety.
Current therapies, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide, have faced challenges in terms of high costs, accessibility, and undesirable side effects. The collaboration between Iktos and Cube Biotech aims to develop orally administered small molecule agonists of the Amylin Receptor that might overcome these issues.
Dr. Barbara Maertens, Co-founder and COO of Cube Biotech, highlighted the potential of this joint effort: "Amylin Receptor is a challenging but highly promising target for metabolic disorders. Through our collaboration with Iktos, we aim to leverage our advanced protein stabilization and structural analysis technologies to validate and accelerate the discovery of novel small molecule agonists. Together, we are setting a new standard for efficiency and innovation in drug discovery."
The collaboration is geared towards pharmaceutical companies, with a joint offering that combines the strengths of both partners' technologies to navigate complex drug discovery programs.
Iktos provides a sophisticated 3D generative chemistry technology, which natively considers protein flexibility during molecule optimisation, while Cube Biotech offers a leading protein production platform that preserves the natural state of membrane proteins through their NativeMPTM technology.
The integration of these technologies aims to address inefficiencies in drug development, shorten timelines, increase success rates, and open up new possibilities for targeting complex membrane proteins, including G-protein coupled receptors, membrane transporters, and ion channels.
