2335290
Cooperative Agreement
Overview
Grant Description
SBIR Phase II: AI-assisted identification of small molecules for targeted repair of vascular barrier dysfunctions.
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will lead to an artificial intelligence (AI) assisted drug discovery platform that may shed light on unexplored interactions and mechanisms to quickly predict the best small molecules to design new therapies for diseases with unmet clinical needs.
Currently, there is no targeted treatment addressing endothelial dysfunctions or vascular leaks.
Through the AI-assisted platform, the company will generate treatment candidates for disorders associated with vascular leaks and improve the efficiency of the drug discovery workflow.
The first condition that the company will address is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a life-threatening form of respiratory failure that affects approximately 200,000 patients each year in the US, resulting in nearly 75,000 deaths annually.
The company’s therapeutic intervention for ARDS and other diseases with vascular leakage could significantly increase the survival rate, reduce costs associated with hospitalization, and improve the health outcomes of the patients.
Leveraging AI-assisted drug discovery approach for ARDS drug development, the company will strive to bring forward effective strategies to screen approved and investigational therapeutic agents as well as novel chemical entities (NCEs) to derisk future clinical development.
The proposed project seeks to develop an AI-assisted drug discovery platform to identify existing drugs as well as NCEs able to repair the vascular permeability barrier in several different conditions.
In this project, the R&D efforts will be dedicated towards (1) further development of the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADME-TOX) engine to flag toxicophores and predict ADME-TOX endpoints, (2) development of the next level active-learning docking-scoring protocol for superior screening efficiency, (3) performing a hit-to-lead campaign for protein activators for restoring disrupted endothelial barrier and identifying NCE candidates, and (4) performing advanced proof of concept studies of pre-lead protein activator compounds in ADME-TOX, human lung-on-chip model, and in vivo vascular leak mouse model.
The successful completion of the Phase II activities could bring the development of an AI-assisted drug discovery platform with a novel pocket prediction engine, active learning-based docking-scoring workflow, ADME-TOX engine, and an electronic library of AI-generated synthesizable molecules collection.
At the end of the SBIR Phase II project, the company will select the lead ARDS drug candidate for IND-enabling studies based on the battery of in vitro and in vivo studies.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Subawards are not planned for this award.
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will lead to an artificial intelligence (AI) assisted drug discovery platform that may shed light on unexplored interactions and mechanisms to quickly predict the best small molecules to design new therapies for diseases with unmet clinical needs.
Currently, there is no targeted treatment addressing endothelial dysfunctions or vascular leaks.
Through the AI-assisted platform, the company will generate treatment candidates for disorders associated with vascular leaks and improve the efficiency of the drug discovery workflow.
The first condition that the company will address is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a life-threatening form of respiratory failure that affects approximately 200,000 patients each year in the US, resulting in nearly 75,000 deaths annually.
The company’s therapeutic intervention for ARDS and other diseases with vascular leakage could significantly increase the survival rate, reduce costs associated with hospitalization, and improve the health outcomes of the patients.
Leveraging AI-assisted drug discovery approach for ARDS drug development, the company will strive to bring forward effective strategies to screen approved and investigational therapeutic agents as well as novel chemical entities (NCEs) to derisk future clinical development.
The proposed project seeks to develop an AI-assisted drug discovery platform to identify existing drugs as well as NCEs able to repair the vascular permeability barrier in several different conditions.
In this project, the R&D efforts will be dedicated towards (1) further development of the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADME-TOX) engine to flag toxicophores and predict ADME-TOX endpoints, (2) development of the next level active-learning docking-scoring protocol for superior screening efficiency, (3) performing a hit-to-lead campaign for protein activators for restoring disrupted endothelial barrier and identifying NCE candidates, and (4) performing advanced proof of concept studies of pre-lead protein activator compounds in ADME-TOX, human lung-on-chip model, and in vivo vascular leak mouse model.
The successful completion of the Phase II activities could bring the development of an AI-assisted drug discovery platform with a novel pocket prediction engine, active learning-based docking-scoring workflow, ADME-TOX engine, and an electronic library of AI-generated synthesizable molecules collection.
At the end of the SBIR Phase II project, the company will select the lead ARDS drug candidate for IND-enabling studies based on the battery of in vitro and in vivo studies.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Subawards are not planned for this award.
Awardee
Funding Goals
THE GOAL OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, "NSF SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH PHASE II (SBIR)/ SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAMS PHASE II", IS IDENTIFIED IN THE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.NSF.GOV/PUBLICATIONS/PUB_SUMM.JSP?ODS_KEY=NSF23516
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Mansfield,
Massachusetts
02048-1548
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Akttyva Therapeutics was awarded
Cooperative Agreement 2335290
worth $999,878
from National Science Foundation in August 2024 with work to be completed primarily in Mansfield Massachusetts United States.
The grant
has a duration of 2 years and
was awarded through assistance program 47.084 NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships.
The Cooperative Agreement was awarded through grant opportunity NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase II Programs (SBIR/STTR Phase II).
SBIR Details
Research Type
SBIR Phase II
Title
SBIR Phase II: AI-assisted identification of small molecules for targeted repair of vascular barrier dysfunctions
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will lead to an Artificial Intelligence (AI) assisted drug discovery platform that may shed light on unexplored interactions and mechanisms to quickly predict the best small molecules to design new therapies for diseases with unmet clinical needs. Currently, there is no targeted treatment addressing endothelial dysfunctions or vascular leaks. Through the AI-assisted platform the company will generate treatment candidates for disorders associated with vascular leaks and improve the efficiency of the drug discovery workflow. The first condition that the company will address is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a life-threatening form of respiratory failure that affects approximately 200,000 patients each year in the US, resulting in nearly 75,000 deaths annually. The company’s therapeutic intervention for ARDS and other diseases with vascular leakage could significantly increase the survival rate, reduce costs associated with hospitalization, and improve the health outcomes of the patients. Leveraging AI-assisted drug discovery approach for ARDS drug development, the company will strive to bring forward effective strategies to screen approved and investigational therapeutic agents as well as novel chemical entities (NCEs) to derisk future clinical development.
The proposed project seeks to develop an AI-assisted drug discovery platform to identify existing drugs as well as NCEs able to repair the vascular permeability barrier in several different conditions. In this project, the R&D efforts will be dedicated towards (1) further development of the Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity (ADME-Tox) Engine to flag toxicophores and predict ADME-Tox endpoints, (2) development of the next level active-learning docking-scoring protocol for superior screening efficiency, (3) performing a Hit-to-lead campaign for protein activators for restoring disrupted endothelial barrier and identifying NCE candidates, and (4) performing advanced proof of concept studies of pre-lead protein activator compounds in ADME-Tox, human lung-on-chip model, and in vivo vascular leak mouse model. The successful completion of the Phase II activities could bring the development of an AI-assisted drug discovery platform with a novel pocket prediction engine, active learning-based docking-scoring workflow, ADME-Tox engine, and an electronic library of AI-generated synthesizable molecules collection. At the end of the SBIR Phase II project, the company will select the lead ARDS drug candidate for IND-enabling studies based on the battery of in vitro and in vivo studies.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Topic Code
PT
Solicitation Number
NSF 23-516
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 8/27/24
Period of Performance
8/15/24
Start Date
7/31/26
End Date
Funding Split
$999.9K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$999.9K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
2335290
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Funding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Awardee UEI
D499BMF9M9H3
Awardee CAGE
8SHN0
Performance District
MA-04
Senators
Edward Markey
Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Warren
Modified: 8/27/24