IDEAYA Biosciences Partners with ATTMOS for Drug Discovery
IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDYA), a pioneering company in precision medicine oncology, has embarked on a significant research collaboration with ATTMOS. This partnership aims to revolutionize the drug discovery landscape by focusing on challenging, first-in-class oncology targets traditionally deemed undruggable.
Integrating Expertise for Breakthrough Solutions
The collaboration seeks to harness the strengths of IDEAYA's established expertise in structural biology and pharmaceutical drug discovery alongside ATTMOS's innovative approaches in computational chemistry and high-performance computing. Together, they aim to develop a highly efficient workflow solution for making precise absolute binding free energy perturbation predictions (ABFEP) for potential first-in-class drug candidates.
This process leverages cutting-edge physics-based statistical mechanics to predict protein-ligand affinities, crucially necessary for high-speed virtual screens. The goal is to establish a new standard in the industry for swiftly identifying drug hits that could provide solutions for novel biological targets.
Addressing Challenges in Drug Discovery
Michael White, Ph.D., the Chief Scientific Officer at IDEAYA Biosciences, emphasized the limitations of current artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) methodologies, which often only benefit well-understood biological target classes or previously drugged targets. By enhancing these tools, IDEAYA aims to transform the landscape of drug discovery focused on unique oncology targets perceived as undruggable.
Paul Barsanti, Ph.D., IDEAYA's Chief Technology Officer, noted that this collaboration brings a mechanical engineering approach to drug discovery. This innovative angle embraces the full potential of these methodologies at scale, allowing for the efficient exploration of previously uncharted oncology targets.
Leveraging Advanced Computational Tools
Under this partnership, the teams will utilize the Amber molecular dynamics suite as a core simulation engine for free energy calculations. This choice is pivotal as IDEAYA actively trains and refines ABFEP-based active learning cycles utilizing extensive datasets, generated from successful wet-lab drug campaigns against various novel targets.
These predictive models will facilitate the screening of vast libraries of discoverable chemical spaces, enhancing the identification of small molecule ligands targeting new and exciting areas of oncology therapeutics. By addressing the limitations seen in current virtual screening methods, the collaboration aspires to expedite the discovery of groundbreaking treatments that meet urgent clinical needs.
About IDEAYA Biosciences
IDEAYA Biosciences is at the forefront of targeted therapeutic development, aligning its research strategies with molecular diagnostics to benefit patient populations most likely to respond positively. Their commitment to precision medicine extends to investigating synthetic lethality, an emerging cadre of precision medicine targets that can yield exceptional therapeutic outcomes.
About ATTMOS
Founded in early 2022, ATTMOS is the brainchild of a collaborative team of experts from leading academic institutions, including Michigan State, Rutgers, and UC San Diego. The company aims to integrate novel technological advancements within the drug discovery process, fostering a dynamic union of industrial and academic innovation to make these technologies accessible and affordable to all.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the focus of the collaboration between IDEAYA Biosciences and ATTMOS?
The collaboration focuses on developing a drug discovery platform to target oncology treatments that are currently considered undruggable.
How will IDEAYA Biosciences benefit from the partnership?
By leveraging ATTMOS's computational chemistry strengths, IDEAYA aims to enhance its drug discovery capabilities and efficiently pursue new oncology targets.
What technologies will be used in the collaboration?
The partnership will utilize the Amber molecular dynamics suite for simulations, along with advanced computational techniques for predicting drug interactions.
What traditional challenges does the collaboration address?
The collaboration seeks to overcome existing limitations in virtual screening methods that hinder the discovery of new small molecule oncology therapeutics.
Who leads IDEAYA Biosciences?
IDEAYA Biosciences is led by Michael White as Chief Scientific Officer and Paul Barsanti as Chief Technology Officer, both of whom are instrumental in driving the company's strategic initiatives.
