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AION Labs

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AION Labs
Company typeVenture Studio
IndustryAI, Machine Learning, Pharmaceutical Discovery, Drug Development
Founded2021; 3 years ago (2021)
Key people
Mati Gill (CEO), Yair Benita (CTO)
Websiteaionlabs.com

AION Labs is an Israeli[1] venture studio focused on the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in pharmaceutical discovery and development processes.[2][3][1][4]

It is backed by eight major companies in the pharmaceutical, technology, and investing sectors.[5][6][7] This partnership includes pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca,[8] Merck KGaA,[9] Pfizer,[10] and Teva Pharmaceuticals;[11] venture capital firms Israel Biotech Fund[12] and Amiti Ventures;[13] strategic partner Amazon Web Services;[14] and independent research institute BioMed X,[15] with support from the Israel Innovation Authority.[16]

History

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AION Labs was formed after winning a government tender in 2020, bringing together AstraZeneca, Merck KGaA, Pfizer, and Teva—from the pharmaceutical sector—with Amazon Web Services (AWS), a technology and cloud computing provider, and biotech and deeptech VC firms Israel Biotech Fund and Amiti Ventures. The Management team of the company includes CEO Mati Gill[17][18] and CTO Yair Benita.[19]

In 2022 and 2023, it was nominated for the Prix Galien USA Award for its work in AI and healthcare[20] and awarded "Most Valuable Collaboration Award" by Reuters Pharma Awards USA 2022.[21]

In February 2023, AION Labs introduced DenovAI, a venture focused on antibody discovery through an AI-powered computational platform. DenovAI's technology is designed to discover antibodies de novo, expediting and economizing the process.[22][23]

In January 2024, AION Labs unveiled TenAces Biosciences,[24][25] a venture in the field of molecular glue discovery using machine learning. Formed from AION Labs' initiative to develop AI platforms for targeted protein degradation, TenAces focuses on accelerating the discovery and development of new molecular glue therapies.[26]

In February 2024, the challenge of developing an AI/ML platform for Targeting RNA with Small Molecules was launched via a Call for Applications.[27]

In March 2024, it launched CombinAble.AI, a startup resulting from an AION Labs' startup challenge aimed at the antibody design process.[28][29]

Activities

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AION Labs focuses on developing AI and computational technologies in drug discovery and development in the pharmaceutical industry. It aids in the creation of companies in the pharmaceutical sector. The studio’s venture creation model leverages the BioMed X model and focuses on:[30]

  • identifying R&D challenges in drug discovery and development based on scientific/technological business opportunities and market needs;[31]
  • assembling multidisciplinary teams of scientist-founders and innovators through an application process and a week-long innovation workshop;
  • offering resources, including an initial pre-seed investment of at least $1M, mentoring, proprietary data and access to an industry expert and investor network.[32]

Companies

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DenovAI

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DenovAI focuses on expediting drug discovery by creating an AI-based platform designed to generate high-affinity therapeutic antibodies and miniprotein binders for specific protein targets from scratch.[22]

TenAces

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TenAces Biosciences is focused on advancing the development of molecular glue therapeutics designed for targeted protein degradation. Employing a data-centric approach and machine learning, TenAces explores protein interactions, pairs, and multi-dimensional features to predict new molecular glues to enhance therapeutic outcomes.[33][25]

Combinable.AI

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Combinable.AI focuses on addressing challenges in pharmaceutical development and manufacturing by developing an in silico method for optimizing antibody properties simultaneously. This approach aims to speed up the drug discovery process by identifying multiple candidates that achieve a balanced profile across diverse characteristics, reducing the reliance on trial-and-error methods.[34][35]

Omec.AI

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Omec.AI focuses on improving the likelihood of success for drug candidates in clinical trials through the analysis of pre-clinical safety and efficacy data. The platform builds computational models to detect potential safety concerns and efficacy issues early in the drug development process.[36]

References

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  1. ^ a b Spiro, James (2024-01-08). "Amiti Ventures joins pharma venture studio AION Labs as a Strategic Partner". ctech. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  2. ^ "Executive Conversations: Using AI and ML to accelerate joint learning in pharmaceuticals with consortium members of AION Labs | AWS for Industries". aws.amazon.com. 2022-12-13. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  3. ^ Wrobel, Sharon (28 February 2023). "Israel lab backed by pharma giants mints startup for computer-designed antibodies". timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  4. ^ Jaffe-Hoffman, Maayan (2024-03-17). "Israeli startup to use AI to transform antibody discovery, design". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  5. ^ Vinluan, Frank (2021-10-17). "Four big pharma companies team up in AI initiative focused on drug R&D". MedCity News. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  6. ^ "AstraZeneca, Merck KGaA, Pfizer, and Teva Team up with Tech and Investment Leaders to Launch New Biotech Innovation Lab". PharmTech. 2021-10-14. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  7. ^ Miller, Sara (2024-04-01). "In Israel, Big Pharma & Innovators Are Using Tech To Fight Disease". NoCamels. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  8. ^ "Data Science & Artificial Intelligence: Unlocking new science insights". www.astrazeneca.com. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  9. ^ "Scope of Consolidation. List of shareholdings". merckgroup.com. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  10. ^ "Partnering News | Pfizer". www.pfizer.com. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  11. ^ "Revolutionary Innovations in Medicine Propelled by AI and Cross-Industry Collaboration". www.tevapharm.com. August 3, 2023. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  12. ^ "Israel Biotech Fund – Israel Biotech Fund". 2024-07-04. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  13. ^ "Amiti Blog - Amiti Ventures joins pharma venture studio AION Labs as a Strategic Partner". www.amiti.vc. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  14. ^ "AWS joins pharma and biotech leaders in launching AION Labs to transform therapeutics | AWS for Industries". aws.amazon.com. 2021-10-13. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  15. ^ "AION Labs". BioMed X Institute. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  16. ^ "Innovation Labs List". רשות החדשנות (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  17. ^ "The Israel-America Chamber of Commerce - Mati Gill". www.amcham.co.il. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  18. ^ "Mati Gill". Healthcare Technological Innovation Program - Lahav. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  19. ^ Ben-David, Ricky (14 October 2021). "New innovation lab brings together pharma, biotech giants for AI therapeutics". timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  20. ^ Lovegrove, Gemma (2022-08-18). "Prix Galien USA award nominees announced". AIMed. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  21. ^ "Pharma Awards USA 2024". events.reutersevents.com. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  22. ^ a b "AION Labs launches second startup focused on AI-enabled antibody design". MobiHealthNews. 2023-02-28. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  23. ^ Blizovsky, Avi (March 4, 2023). "AION Labs is establishing the startup DenovAI that will deal with the design of antibodies and drugs". hayadan.com. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  24. ^ Goldberg, Niva (2024-01-31). "Israel's Aion Labs Establishes TenAces to Develop New Molecular Glue Therapies". Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  25. ^ a b Jaffe-Hoffman, Maayan (2024-02-03). "AION Labs unveils TenAces start-up, will use AI to predict molecular glues". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  26. ^ Sohail, Syed Hamza (2024-01-30). "Molecular Glue Revolution: TenAces Biosciences Unveils AI-Powered Drug Discovery Platform". hitconsultant.net. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  27. ^ "התוכנית הזאת הופכת רעיונות לסטארטאפ – מהמחקר ועד גיוס משקיעים" [This program turns ideas into startups - from research to recruiting investors]. geektime.co.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  28. ^ "סטארט-אפ בינה מלאכותית חדש בישראל: זה התחום בו יעסוק". Ice (in Hebrew). 2024-03-12. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  29. ^ "AION Labs launches CombinAble.AI to design antibodies for therapeutic development". MobiHealthNews. 2024-03-15. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  30. ^ "BioMed X: Tackling the unmet need in biomedical research & development | Business & Corporate News". 2020-04-20. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  31. ^ "ICDK Tel Aviv attracting multinational companies to the innovation ecosystem Best practices from Israel". icdk.dk. ISBN 978-87-94128-61-2. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  32. ^ Jaffe-Hoffman, Maayan (2021-10-19). "Pfizer, AstraZeneca help launch 'computational science' lab in Israel". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  33. ^ וינרב, גלי (2024-02-11). "המוצר הישראלי שהקפיץ את מניית התרופות האמריקאית ב-42%". Globes. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  34. ^ Dargan, James (2024-03-21). "AION Labs Unveils CombinAble.AI, Aimed at Crafting Antibodies for Therapeutics, Following Its Fifth Startup Challenge in Israel". AI Insider. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  35. ^ "AION Labs Launches CombinAble". 2024-03-19. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  36. ^ McNamee, Aidan (2023-05-30). "AION Labs and BioMed X launch sixth challenge for AI-driven drug discovery". Pharmaceutical Technology. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
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