The makers of the world’s first phase two AI generated drug said the UAE can be at the heart of a new era in the fight against disease.
The drug discovery process, traditionally known for its complexity and lengthy timelines, is undergoing a significant transformation with the rise of artificial intelligence.
Historically, developing a new drug could take up to 12 years and had a success rate of less than 1 per cent. However, AI is set to change this, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs dramatically.
The integration of AI into drug discovery heralds a new era for the pharmaceutical industry
Alex Zhavoronkov,
founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine
“AI provides a way to convert money into drugs,” Alex Zhavoronkov, founder and chief executive of Insilico Medicine, a clinical stage biotech company powered by generative AI, told The National during Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week.
“You can have luxury cars and everything but you can't live without drugs. You die without drugs and, in our case, we want to make sure people die late in life."
Cutting costs
Traditional drug discovery is expensive, with estimates ranging from $2 billion to $6.1 billion over 12 years, while the pre-clinical phase alone can cost about $700 million.
In contrast, it is hoped AI-driven approaches can reduce the costs of the pre-clinical stage to approximately $4 million on average, with a worst-case scenario of about $20 million due to lower failure rates.
“There are thousands of diseases that have no cure. We still don’t have a cure for Alzheimer’s or certain cancers,” Mr Zhavoronkov said.
However with AI, not only can more drugs be produced but the aim now is to develop drugs with dual purposes.
"AI can impact drug discovery in three critical stages," he said.
Significant progress
"First, AI aids in understanding the root causes of diseases and identifying the proteins driving these diseases. This process, known as target identification, is crucial for pinpointing which proteins to target for new drug development.
"Second, AI excels in designing small molecule drugs. These molecules are engineered to inhibit or disable the target protein without affecting other proteins in the body, ensuring minimal side effects. Additionally, AI helps design molecules with properties that allow them to survive the digestive system and reach the intended tissues effectively.
"Third, AI optimises the selection of experimental systems and predicts outcomes, reducing time and cost. It also assists in personalised medicine by matching the right drugs to the right patients, increasing the success rates of clinical trials."
Despite the promise of AI in drug discovery, no AI-generated drug has yet reached phase three clinical trials. However, significant progress is being made.
"The integration of AI into drug discovery heralds a new era for the pharmaceutical industry,” he said. "It offers hope for more efficient and cost-effective solutions to combat diseases. As the technology continues to evolve, the potential for significant improvements in global health outcomes remains immense."
The strategy involves leveraging global resources for testing and production while concentrating AI development in geopolitically neutral regions like Abu Dhabi.
"This approach avoids instability seen between major powers like the US and China, ensuring steady progress," said Mr Zhavoronkov.
"For the first time in human history, AI can help convert money into drugs over a seven-year period. The most intelligent way to spend the money is to design locally and outsource globally."
Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week - in pictures
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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The%20specs
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UAE - India ties
The UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner after the US and China
Annual bilateral trade between India and the UAE has crossed US$ 60 billion
The UAE is the fourth-largest exporter of crude oil for India
Indians comprise the largest community with 3.3 million residents in the UAE
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi first visited the UAE in August 2015
His visit on August 23-24 will be the third in four years
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited India in February 2016
Sheikh Mohamed was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in January 2017
Modi will visit Bahrain on August 24-25
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
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Bangladesh tour of Pakistan
January 24 – First T20, Lahore
January 25 – Second T20, Lahore
January 27 – Third T20, Lahore
February 7-11 – First Test, Rawalpindi
April 3 – One-off ODI, Karachi
April 5-9 – Second Test, Karachi
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Company%20profile
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