Hyderabad / New Delhi, May 29 (Mayank Nigam) Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB) under the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) here, and Aganitha, an innovative in silico solutions provider combining the power of Deep Science and Deep Tech, have signed an umbrella memorandum of understanding (MoU). This partnership aims to apply Generative AI solutions to design novel therapeutics and research tools addressing needs in multiple disease areas.
Initial areas of collaboration include target analysis, small molecule design, antibody and nanobody engineering for addressing malaria, tuberculosis (TB), and neurological disorders. This strategic collaboration is designed to translate discoveries from the globally acclaimed research labs of CCMB into therapeutic candidates through the application of Aganitha’s Generative AI solutions for biopharma R&D, a CCMB statement said on Wednesday. Dr Puran Singh Sijwali, Senior Principal Scientist at CCMB, highlighted the significance of this collaboration in malaria studies, stating, “We continue to struggle with controlling malaria due to drug resistance of the pathogen, lack of broadly available vaccines, and insecticide resistance of mosquitoes. Collaborative efforts of interdisciplinary experts are necessary to develop new drugs and vaccines for malaria.
Towards this goal, we are leveraging Aganitha’s Generative AI capabilities in the small molecules space for validated parasite drug targets to predict, test, and optimize potential antimalarial compounds.” Dr Raghunand Tirumalai, Senior Principal Scientist at CCMB, discussed the advances this collaboration can bring in TB research, saying, “In collaboration with Aganitha, we are working towards the structure-based discovery of small molecule inhibitors targeting essential proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We are excited about this partnership and anticipate that this will lead to the identification of multiple novel anti-TB therapeutic leads.” Dr Janesh Kumar, Senior Principal Scientist at CCMB, studying neurotransmission in the central nervous system, noted, “The collaboration between CSIR-CCMB and Aganitha to develop nanobody binders targeting a class of neurotransmitter receptors, called the GluD1 receptors, marks a significant stride in neuroscience and pharmacology. These nanobodies might serve as precise molecular tools to modulate GluD1 receptor activity, potentially unlocking novel therapeutic avenues for neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and epilepsy.
With their small size and high specificity, nanobodies hold promise for targeted drug delivery and imaging applications, paving the way for tailored treatments with reduced side effects.” Commenting on this R&D partnership, Director of CCMB, Dr Vinay Nandicoori, noted that “The collaboration with Aganitha is forward-looking, utilizing CCMB’s strength in fundamental research on disease biology and Aganitha’s expertise in AI-driven solutions. It is timely for us to forge such a collaboration to take our lab leads towards more real-life solutions.” Prasad Chodavarapu, co-founder and Managing Director of Aganitha, sees the relationship between CCMB and Agnitha as a prime example of the academia-industry collaboration needed to make a significant impact on solving human diseases and suffering. “At Aganitha, we are inspired by the opportunity to make a meaningful and lasting impact on humanity with our work. We are a multi-disciplinary team of researchers specializing in multi-scale systems biology, quantum chemistry, and Generative AI, taking the here-and-now opportunity to leverage the virtual loop of innovation happening between Deep Science and Deep Tech, to transform global life sciences R&D. We are very excited by the ongoing collaboration with CCMB. It is very important for us to establish a rich and vibrant ecosystem of science and tech collaborations in Hyderabad and India. CCMB-Aganitha collaboration is only a first step in this direction. We look forward to more such collaborations,” he said.