While synthetic intelligence (AI) has delivered significant breakthroughs, the most transformative innovations may actually stem from. Through extensive analysis of vast organic datasets, AI can empower researchers to accurately forecast how diverse chemical compounds will interact with specific biological targets in the body, thereby expediting the discovery of novel and potent drug prospects.
In a bid to combat the pervasive issue of cardiovascular disease, a spinout from Cambridge College has set its sights on finding solutions. The corporation has announced a significant milestone, having secured $6.5 million in a seed round of funding to support its ongoing initiatives.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) account for the majority of global mortality, resulting in a staggering 17.9 million deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization. According to statistics, ischemic coronary heart disease, also known as coronary heart disease, is the primary cause of mortality worldwide, accounting for a staggering 13% of total deaths globally?
Founded in 2021 by a team of visionary biotech and bioengineering professionals, CardiaTec was born from the collective expertise of its CEO and COO. The team is backed by its third co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Dr., a renowned lecturer in AI-driven drug discovery at Cambridge University, where Peralta and Zablocki pursued their Master’s degrees in Bioscience Enterprise. With expertise in machine learning, computational biology, cancer genomics, and epigenomics, Han is poised to lead the university’s AI initiative, fostering strong connections with industry partners, including pharmaceutical companies.
“When discussing cultural nuances, Han’s expertise lies at the intersection of instruction and trade, allowing him to grasp the value of a translational perspective,” Peralta explained to TechCrunch in an interview. “We leveraged the opportunity to build upon Namshik’s research, specifically within the cardiovascular domain.”
The staggering cost of bringing a drug to market – approximately $2.2 billion – is largely attributed to the sobering reality that nine out of ten potential candidates ultimately fall short in their development process, highlighting the pressing need for innovative solutions like CardiaTec’s approach to tackle this challenge head-on? CardiaTec is poised to decipher the complex biology behind cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
The corporation has forged partnerships with 65 hospitals across the UK. In the United States, several companies are providing human coronary heart tissue as part of their extensive data collection initiatives, which will help them assemble the “largest human coronary heart tissue-multi-omics dataset,” encompassing a vast spectrum of biological information across molecular biology disciplines. By pursuing this effort, CardiaTec aims to identify innovative and targeted treatments.
Traditionally, accessing human tissue, especially that of deceased individuals, has been extremely challenging due to complexities surrounding consent, ethical considerations, and logistical hurdles. “As hospital infrastructure becomes increasingly integrated, we’ll gain access to human tissues, unlocking new insights.”
Within the realm of cardiovascular issues, CardiaTec enables the examination of healthy artery tissue alongside that of an artery afflicted by plaque buildup, which has precipitated a heart attack, thereby providing the data necessary for its computational models to perform further downstream analysis. By leveraging vast amounts of diverse “multi-omics” data, these cutting-edge computational methods excel at processing and integrating information on a massive scale that far surpasses human capabilities.
According to Dr. Peralta, researchers can now explore the interplay between genetic and environmental factors by examining genetics, epigenetics, gene expression, and protein function within an integrated model. “We now have a much deeper comprehension of the underlying mechanisms that may contribute to illnesses.”
Coronary heart of the issue
While medications developed in collaboration with artificial intelligence are still awaiting regulatory approval, the initial momentum has sparked widespread enthusiasm and attracted significant investment from venture capitalists, with numerous startups securing substantial funding in recent years. In recent months, a significant surge in funding has emerged, with notable examples including. In the UK, efforts are underway to develop innovative treatments for rare diseases.
A pharmaceutical startup has recently announced the discovery of a novel drug candidate for an rare lung disease known as. Artificial intelligence played a crucial role not only in crafting the medication’s molecular structure but also in identifying the specific cellular component it must target. The medication underwent initial testing in animals before entering “Phase II” clinical trials in the United States. In China, the site where it is anticipated that data will be gathered to establish the treatment’s effectiveness in benefiting patients.
AI is being deployed to aid in the fight against superbugs and develop targeted medications for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
According to a peer-reviewed journal, Peralta notes that CardiaTec’s distinct advantage stems from its singular dedication to addressing cardiovascular issues, a niche only 3% of AI-driven startups share with the company.
“Firms predominantly leveraging AI in therapeutic research focus primarily on oncology, followed closely by central nervous system disorders, neurogenic diseases, respiratory and infectious diseases, with cardiovascular illnesses falling at the end of the list,” Peralta noted. “Heart disease is the leading global cause of mortality, a fact that often goes unrecognized. Yet, there exists a significant unmet need that has remained unaddressed by the pharmaceutical industry.”
With a pre-existing pre-seed funding foundation, CardiaTec has secured a substantial $6.5 million infusion, positioning the company to aggressively expand its proprietary research initiatives, rigorously validate its therapeutic targets framework, and support its 8-member team in Cambridge with enhanced resources. The following step is to begin figuring out and testing precise drug candidates, which — within the grand scheme of drug R&D — is prone to be a number of years away.
CardiaTec secured its seed funding round, led by Montage Ventures, alongside investments from Continuum Health Ventures, Laidlaw Ventures, Apex Ventures, and a consortium of angel investors.
