Montreal, February 20, 2025 – CQDM is pleased to announce the funding of a collaborative research project aimed at developing new tumor-specific therapeutic candidates designed to minimize toxicities and side effects of oncology therapies, using an innovative approach based on artificial intelligence (AI). This project, worth a total of $2,056,964, is being carried out jointly by 9Bio Therapeutics, Molecular Forecaster and Aramis Biotechnologies, three Quebec-based companies. Funding for this project is made possible thanks to a $1,028,482 grant from the Government of Quebec awarded by CQDM as part of the Partenar-IA program carried out in partnership with IVADO.
Many cancer therapies have significant side effects, impacting quality of life and leading up to 32% of patients (1) to discontinue their treatment or opt for less effective alternatives, according to a recent study. With the aim of reducing harmful side effects, Molecular Forecaster and 9Bio will use AI to rapidly analyze large datasets and predict molecular interactions. Two distinct new targeted therapies with the potential to act complementarily will be developed in parallel. On the one hand, Molecular Forecaster, will deploy its biophysics-based approach, bolstered by machine learning models, to generate small molecules specifically targeting tumor cells, while 9Bio will mobilize its structural biology and AI know-how to generate more targeted and effective monoclonal antibodies. Thanks to AI, they will be able to evaluate the physio-chemical properties of new therapeutic candidates up to 8 months faster, in the research and development (R&D) phase, while reducing costs by 30% compared with traditional laboratory approaches. These biologics will then be manufactured by Aramis Biotechnologies using its versatile plant-based production platform.
This collaborative research project spans from discovery to early proof-of-concept for these innovative therapies, which have the potential to be better tolerated, improve quality of life, and make them more accessible to a wider range of cancer patients.
Reference:
(1) Holmstroem et al., Eur J. Cancer, 2024
“Innovating in life sciences is key to improving the care provided to the population. I’m especially proud of our government supporting such collaborative research projects that leverage AI and demonstrate the expertise of our researchers and the strength of our innovation ecosystem,” said Christopher Skeete, Minister for the Economy, Minister Responsible for the Fight Against Racism and Minister Responsible for the Laval Region.
“By encouraging collaboration between innovative businesses and the research sector, we are accelerating the integration of responsible AI into society and positioning Québec as a leader in this industry. This collaborative research project is a great example. In addition to helping three partner companies grow, it represents a major scientific advance for patients with cancer,” said Céline Haytayan, Member for Laval-des-Rapides, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie, and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy (AI component).
“We are proud to support this project, which uses artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery and access to clinical trials of innovative cancer treatments. By combining their complementary expertise, 9Bio Therapeutics, Molecular Forecaster and Aramis Biotechnologies are paving the way for more specific, less toxic therapies accessible to more patients. This initiative responds to crucial challenges in oncology and is a testament to Quebec’s excellence in biotechnology and artificial intelligence.”, says Diane Gosselin, President and CEO of CQDM.