Engine Biosciences Secures $43M for Digital Drug Discovery

Engine Biosciences Secures $43 Million to Advance Digital Drug Discovery

The field of drug discovery is experiencing substantial growth, attracting both innovative startups and established pharmaceutical giants. Engine Biosciences, a Singapore-based company, represents one such emerging player. Founded by a team of experts, they are pioneering a unique methodology in the search for new therapeutics and have recently secured $43 million in funding to facilitate further expansion.

The Shift Towards Digital Drug Discovery

Generally, digital drug discovery involves the extensive analysis of biological data, including genetic information, gene expression patterns, protein structures, and binding sites. Historically, a significant challenge hasn’t resided in the digital generation of potential molecules or processes, but rather in the subsequent validation of these concepts through in vitro experimentation. Consequently, a new generation of biotechnology firms is focused on integrating these crucial stages.

Engine Biosciences addresses this challenge with two proprietary tools: NetMAPPR and CombiGEM. NetMAPPR functions as a comprehensive search engine for genes and their interactions, specifically identifying “errors” that could serve as targets for therapeutic intervention. CombiGEM, conversely, enables a high-throughput genetic testing process, allowing for the simultaneous investigation of thousands of gene combinations and edits within diseased cells. This provides rapid experimental validation of the targets and effects initially identified through digital analysis. The company’s primary focus is currently on anti-cancer drugs, with plans to explore other therapeutic areas as opportunities arise.

Image Credits: Engine Biosciences

A Focus on Gene Interactions

The company’s emphasis on gene interactions distinguishes its approach, according to co-founder and CEO Jeffrey Lu.

“Gene interactions are fundamentally relevant to all diseases, and particularly in oncology, where our efforts are concentrated, they represent a validated pathway for the development of effective, precision medicines,” Lu explained. “The success of drugs targeting the PARP enzyme in BRCA-mutated cancers exemplifies this principle, fundamentally changing cancer treatment for a significant patient population.”

Having initially raised a $10 million seed round in 2018, Engine Biosciences has been actively pursuing its research agenda. However, further investment is essential to translate these discoveries into marketable therapies.

From Prototype Drugs to Clinical Trials

“We have already identified chemical compounds targeting the novel biological mechanisms we’ve uncovered,” stated Lu. “These compounds demonstrate promising anti-cancer activity in diseased cells. Further refinement and optimization are now required to develop suitable candidates for clinical testing in humans.”

Currently, the company is collaborating with external partners to conduct animal studies, a necessary step prior to initiating human clinical trials.

The CombiGEM platform generates a substantial volume of data through its hundreds of thousands of experiments. This data is being shared and analyzed in collaboration with numerous medical centers across Asia. “We believe we have assembled the largest data compendium pertaining to gene interactions in the context of cancer relevance,” Lu noted, emphasizing the importance of this data for the machine learning algorithms used to predict biological processes.

Funding and Future Outlook

The $43 million funding round was spearheaded by Polaris Partners, with contributions from Invus and a cohort of existing investors. These funds will be allocated to the necessary testing and regulatory processes required to bring a new drug to market based on the company’s promising leads.

“We possess small molecule compounds for our leading cancer programs, supported by data from in vitro experiments. This year will be dedicated to refining the chemistry and expanding our studies,” Lu said. “We anticipate entering the late preclinical development phase and initiating regulatory work for an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the FDA next year, with the goal of commencing clinical trials in 2023.”

The path to human trials, and ultimately widespread clinical use, is a lengthy one, but it is a risk inherent in drug discovery. The potential reward, however, extends beyond financial gains, offering the possibility of life-saving therapies for cancer patients in need of innovative treatment options.