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Algorae Pharmaceuticals is finding ways to revamp its process of drug development from cost saving and speed to timeline of drug research and delivery by adopting artificial intelligence (AI) to utilize its already accessible huge data library and the largest computer in the southern region.

Algorae is focusing only on the means by which it can develop solutions for the healthcare and wellness of communities when there is an outcry for AI’s negative impacts, whether it be privacy concerns, a lack of emotions, creativity, ethics, or job displacement fears.

Source: Researchgate.

AlgoraeOS is the company’s own AI software for drug research

The firm has its own drug discovery platform called AlgoraeOS, and AI is integrated into the operating system. To predict the possibility of a suitable therapy requirement, the system takes into consideration many different approaches, including biological data and disease-associated pathways, to come up with the most suitable option.

The system focuses on speeding up the procedure of suggesting and approving the required treatments and makes the process swifter and less costly as it selects exactly tailored methodologies for medication repurposing so that it can combine already existing solutions to treat a wider range of diseases.

David Smith, chairman of Algore Pharmaceuticals, said,

“We are delighted with the advancements in our artificial intelligence platform. AlgoraeOS represents the cutting edge of combination drug development in Australia.”

Source: Smh.

Potential reprofiling of drugs and molecules from previously unconnected data into possible new drugs to fulfill the needs is now possible as the company will utilize its AlgoraeOS, which has these capabilities due to AI.

Combining research performed over decades for drug development

Source: Researchgate.

Algorae also leverages existing data from other research on individual drugs, which has been carried out over the past decades, to develop new and improved treatments. Another main focus is on fixed-dose combination drugs, which are medications that are made by combining two or more active pharmaceutical ingredients to be given in one dose.

Combination fixed-dose drugs have the benefit that lower doses of each formula can be used, which also lowers the side effects that a drug may have. Another advantage of these types of drugs, along with many others, is that they are effective against a wider range of diseases.

Drug discovery is a time-consuming process, and the current preclinical stage of drug discovery and testing can take six years, according to UNSW, and it costs a significant investment amounting to billions of dollars.

But Algorae has a different point of view; it says that machine learning, neural network models, and technologies of deep learning methods can provide more feasible ways of investigation and also save time and resources. It also says that with the help of AI tools, the drug development process is now faster, as it can now be known in a comparatively shorter span of time if the drug has any interactions or requires reprofiling for targeting a certain element, as well as to assess its toxicity. 

Algorae is the first ASX-listed pharmaceutical company that is using AI for its research and development needs. At the moment, only six percent of clinical trials of drugs receive FDA approval by traditional drug discovery methods. Algorae expects better approval rates by utilizing AI and data power.

The original news can be seen here.