Delta4’s CEO, Kurt Herpel, and CSO, Klaus Kratochwill, were recently featured on the PharmaVentures podcast, where they discussed how Delta4 is transforming the landscape of drug discovery through AI. This engaging conversation sheds light on the roots of the company and the innovative work happening at Delta4, as well as the potential of AI to drive faster, more efficient, and cost-effective drug development.
Why You Should Listen
The conversation between Delta4’s leadership and Adrian Dawkes offers fascinating insights into the future of AI in drug discovery. While AI still relies on complementary human expertise, it is quickly becoming an indispensable tool for uncovering new or hidden therapeutic opportunities, reducing drug development timelines, and making the process more efficient.
Want to learn more about how AI is transforming drug discovery? Listen to the full episode of the PharmaVentures podcast to hear Kurt Herpel and Klaus Kratochwill discuss Delta4’s groundbreaking work and what the future holds for AI in healthcare.
Delta4’s Cutting-Edge Approach
In the podcast, Kurt Herpel and Klaus Kratochwill share Delta4’s mission to revolutionize drug discovery using their proprietary AI platform, Hyper-C. Hyper-C analyzes vast amounts of public domain data, ultimately creating a knowledge graph that reveals potential relationships between drugs and diseases. Using graph theoretical interference screening, the platform identifies the best matches between drugs and diseases, offering new insights and possibilities for drug repurposing and combination therapies. But our process doesn’t stop there. It is complemented by a rigorous human curation of the provided data to offer optimal and explainable results.
Some of the key highlights of Delta4’s approach discussed in the episode include:
- Cost-Effective Drug Repurposing: Repurposing existing drugs allows Delta4 to significantly reduce development costs and timelines by focusing on compounds with known safety profiles.
- Drug Combination Analysis: Hyper-C identifies promising drug combinations that could offer more effective treatments for complex diseases.
- Biomarker Discovery: Delta4’s technology also supports biomarker discovery, which plays a crucial role in advancing clinical trials.
- Securing Strong Intellectual Property: Delta4’s AI-powered approach aids in securing strong patents by uncovering novel and non-obvious drug-disease connections for which existing literature lacks direct evidence. Identifying hidden relationships between existing drugs with known safety profiles accelerates development and provides a solid foundation for patent protection.
Real-World Impact: Clopidogrel for Rare Kidney Disease
One compelling case discussed in the episode is Delta4’s identification of clopidogrel, a platelet inhibitor, as a potential treatment for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a rare kidney disease. This breakthrough led to a patent filing and the planning of a clinical trial, demonstrating the power of AI-driven drug repurposing to open new therapeutic avenues.
The interview is filled with insightful information and compelling examples demonstrating the power and precision of Delta4’s AI technology. You’ll hear about drugs identified for use against COVID-19, which were later independently confirmed by other researchers. Additionally, you’ll learn about fascinating experiments, such as setting Hyper-C’s resource database back to the time just before GLP drugs like Ozempic gained popularity. Delta4’s Hyper-C platform successfully identified their remarkable potential for weight loss, highlighting its extensive predictive capabilities.
About PharmaVentures
PharmaVentures is a leading global advisory firm specializing in transaction advisory services, M&A deals, and strategic alliances for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Over the last 30 years, they’ve advised on more than 1,000 projects, including licensing, mergers, acquisitions, divestments, and joint ventures for companies worldwide. With its deep expertise and extensive network, PharmaVentures supports businesses through all aspects of deal-making and strategic planning. Headquartered in the UK, PharmaVentures has earned a reputation for excellence and innovation in deal execution.
The podcast is hosted by Adrian Dawkes, Managing Director at PharmaVentures, who brings more than 30 years of experience in pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, making him the perfect guide for insightful conversations about the latest industry developments.
