Vancouver, BC – September 17, 2024
Rakovina Therapeutics Inc. (TSX-V: RKV), a Canadian biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative cancer treatments, has announced a strategic collaboration with Variational AI, a leader in generative AI drug discovery, to accelerate the discovery of novel small-molecule therapies targeting DNA-damage response (DDR) kinases.
Variational AI’s Enki™ Platform Powers Future Development
Under the partnership, Rakovina Therapeutics secures exclusive rights to AI-generated compounds from Variational AI’s Enki™ platform, with an option to license validated drug candidates for further development. Variational AI will use its cutting-edge generative AI technology to design DDR kinase inhibitors, while Rakovina Therapeutics will synthesize and test them at its laboratories located at the University of British Columbia.
Revolutionizing Drug Discovery with AI
The Enki™ platform is the first commercially available foundation model for small molecules. It enables rapid generation of novel, potent, and synthesizable lead compounds. By combining deep learning with AI-driven molecular design, Enki™ reduces drug discovery timelines and costs. This collaboration highlights Variational AI’s growing role in precision oncology and in optimizing drug development pipelines.
Accelerated Development Timelines
A key goal of the collaboration is to dramatically shorten the drug discovery timeline:
- Enki™ will generate potential candidates within 4–6 weeks of target selection
- Rakovina Therapeutics aims to assess their viability within 12–18 months
Executive Perspective
Handol Kim, CEO of Variational AI, said:
“Our Enki™ platform represents a transformative shift in AI-driven drug discovery, delivering optimized small molecules faster and more efficiently than traditional methods. By combining our AI expertise with Rakovina’s deep oncology knowledge, we aim to accelerate the development of life-saving cancer therapies.”
Jeffrey Bacha, Executive Chairman of Rakovina Therapeutics, added:
“We are excited to partner with Variational AI to expand our AI-driven discovery initiatives beyond PARP inhibitors and into broader DDR-targeted therapies. This collaboration enhances our ability to rapidly advance novel drug candidates and strengthens our position in AI-enabled oncology research.”
About Variational AI
Variational AI is pioneering the application of generative AI in drug discovery. The company provides biopharma partners with faster, cost-effective access to novel and potent small molecule candidates.
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About Rakovina Therapeutics
Rakovina Therapeutics is a Canadian biopharmaceutical company focused on developing next-generation DDR-targeted cancer therapies. Its mission is to advance novel oncology treatments into clinical trials and ultimately gain regulatory approval.
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