Researchers from SK Telecom and SK Biopharmaceuticals discuss the results of their artificial intelligence-powered drug discovery research. Courtesy of SK Telecom
Artificial intelligence (AI) has helped SK Telecom and SK Biopharmaceuticals identify promising early compounds for a targeted cancer therapy in just five months, a breakthrough the companies said could significantly accelerate the earliest stage of drug development.
SK Telecom said Wednesday that the joint research successfully identified two early hit compounds capable of binding to ROR1, a protein found on the surface of cancer cells that has emerged as a promising target for treating a range of blood cancers and solid tumors.
The companies said AI generated and screened a large pool of binder candidates before laboratory testing confirmed that two showed potential as early-stage hit compounds.
Binders are molecules designed to attach to specific biological targets, such as proteins found on cancer cells.
