UAE scientists harness AI to discover potential blood cancer drug

UAE scientists have utilized artificial intelligence to potentially discover a new drug class that could treat blood cancer. Insilico Medicine, a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, achieved this breakthrough. The AI-powered technology could expedite drug development and research timelines, as 90% of potential drugs that reach human testing fail to become approved medicines.

Ahmad Alghaith, an organic chemist at Insilico Medicine, stated that AI could enhance success rates, reduce time spent, and lower costs. The company employs two AI platforms, PandaOmics and Chemistry42, in its research. PROTACs, a new type of double-ended molecule, were identified through this process. Unlike conventional drugs, PROTACs target and destroy malignant cells by dragging them to the cell's disposal system.

These new drug candidates, described as "lead compounds," have not yet entered clinical trials. Insilico Medicine recently discovered a drug for brain cancer and a non-opioid molecule for chronic pain using AI. As the sector grows, AI-driven drug discovery presents new career opportunities in the UAE, as Alghaith highlighted. The Abu Dhabi Investment Office supported Insilico Medicine's UAE operations.