CADD Assistance
Breakthroughs in drug discovery are more important now than ever with the ongoing global health crisis. And it’s why, methodologies in computer-aided drug design (CADD) — which can speed up molecular simulations as well as improve accuracy rates (though at greater cost) — are becoming more important. With the aid of quantum computers in CADD, however, simulations of molecules, atoms or even subatomic particles could be magically transformed into quicker, more accurate and definitely more cost-effective exercises.
Realizing it from a business and human perspective, startups heavily focused on unifying quantum theory with pharma have been sprouting up: ApexQubit, Pharmacelera and others offer clients unique biotech solutions manipulating the magic of quantum physics.
FAR Biotech
FAR Biotech, too, seems to understand how quantum information science (QIS) can change the game in the pharmaceutical industry. Founded in Houston, Texas, in 2016, FAR Biotech’s is an ‘in silico drug discovery platform company that can reliably, quickly and cost-effectively identify novel drug-like molecules against any therapeutic target’.
With an idea to consolidate ML and big data with quantum mechanical modelling, FAR Biotech proprietary technology yields optimized lead molecules that are bioactive against the target and contain drug-like attributes. The startup’s technology, which is target-agnostic, has validation across numerous medical fields, including oncology, neurodegenerative conditions and infectious diseases.
FAR Biotech’s business model is based on:
1. The development of internal, pre-clinical assets with outsourced experimental testing
2. ‘Fee for service’ collaborations with industry and academic partners to refine and optimize drug leads
CEO, member of the board and the founder of FAR Biotech is Martin Martinov. With a Ph.D. in molecular biophysics from Florida State University, as well as post-doctoral research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, this biophysicist sees how FAR Biotech’s proprietary IP can change humanity’s health outcomes. The company’s Case Studies portfolio, available to view on the website, details FAR Biotech’s Quantum Platform Discoveries in diseases like blood-and-liver-stage Malaria, African Sleeping Sickness and Alzheimer’s. Developed and crafted for the last quarter of a century, Martinov will also rely on his executive and advisory team to raise FAR Biotech’s profile on the biotech stage.
With startups Aqemia, ChemAlive and ProteinQure, FAR Biotech joins the vanguard of those that believe quantum mechanics, along with its little brother QIS, is heading in the right direction, overtaking more redundant forms of technology to cure the world’s sick.
