Artificial intelligence (AI) is a revolutionary technology that has the potential to transform various industries, but one of the most significant breakthroughs lies in the field of drug discovery. By utilizing AI to analyze massive amounts of biological data, researchers can predict how different chemical compounds will interact with specific targets in the body, speeding up the process of identifying potential drug candidates.
One company at the forefront of leveraging AI for drug discovery in the cardiovascular space is CardiaTec. Founded in 2021 by biotech and bioengineering graduates Raphael Peralta, Thelma Zablocki, and Namshik Han, CardiaTec aims to tackle cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death globally, claiming 17.9 million lives each year, according to The World Health Organization. Ischaemic heart disease, in particular, is responsible for 13% of total deaths worldwide.
CardiaTec is focused on addressing the high cost and high failure rate associated with developing new drug candidates. With an average cost of $2.2 billion to bring a drug to market, and a 90% failure rate during the process, the company is committed to decoding the biology of cardiovascular diseases. By collaborating with 65 hospitals in the U.K. and the U.S. to collect human heart tissue samples, CardiaTec is building a comprehensive dataset that includes a wide range of biological information to help identify targeted therapeutics.
One of the key advantages of using AI in drug discovery is the ability to integrate multi-omics data types, such as genetics, epigenetics, gene expression, and protein function, into computational models. By comparing healthy artery tissue with diseased tissue, CardiaTec can gain a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms driving cardiovascular diseases. This approach allows for a more comprehensive analysis that surpasses human capabilities.
While drugs developed with the help of AI have yet to reach the market, the early success has generated significant interest and investment in the field. Startups like Xaira and Formation Bio have secured substantial funding to pursue drug discovery using AI. In the U.K., companies like Healx are focusing on identifying new drugs for rare diseases, while Insilico Medicine has made strides in developing drug candidates for various conditions.
Unlike many other AI-first companies targeting oncology or neurogenic diseases, CardiaTec’s primary focus is on cardiovascular diseases, which are often overlooked in the pharmaceutical industry. With cardiovascular diseases being the leading cause of death globally, there is a significant unmet need for innovative treatments in this space. By specializing in cardiovascular drug discovery, CardiaTec aims to fill this gap and make a meaningful impact on public health.
With a recent seed funding round of $6.5 million led by Montage Ventures, CardiaTec is well-positioned to continue its groundbreaking work in cardiovascular drug discovery. The company plans to expand its data gathering efforts, validate its therapeutic targets model in the lab, and grow its team in Cambridge. While the journey to identifying and testing viable drug candidates may be years away, CardiaTec’s commitment to leveraging AI for cardiovascular health signals a promising future in the field of drug discovery.