Data acquisition and customisation to build on the AlgoraeOS database is currently underway, with a focus on four key pillars of information, including drug, cellular and biological data, in addition to chemistry. Initial acquired data already included in the company’s library cover scientific and medical fields including drug chemical structure, drug-target interactions, gene expression and drug perturbation.

Algorae Pharmaceuticals chairman David Hainsworth said: “We are delighted with the advancements in our artificial intelligence platform. AlgoraeOS represents the cutting edge of combination drug development in Australia.”

The company entered into a memorandum of understanding with UNSW in September last year to build upon a sophisticated AI model trained for pharmaceutical prediction that had already been developed by data specialists within the university’s Data Science Hub. The project is led by Associate Professor Fatemeh Vafee, who attained a PhD in Artificial Intelligence from the School of Computer Science at the University of Illinois in Chicago.

Since its collaboration with UNSW, Algorae has appointed three full-time development staff, with two supported by funding from the CSIRO Next Generation AI Graduate Program. Under the program, the CSIRO provides about two-thirds of the funding required for the development staff, while Algorae provides a third of the costs for a three-year term.

A fourth full-time member, also eligible for CSIRO grant funding, is expected to join the team shortly as multiple candidates with sophisticated pharmacology experience are being considered for the role.

With Algorae making significant progress with its AI platform, in addition to the backing of UNSW and the Gadi supercomputer, the market will be keeping a close eye on what the company can deliver once its system is fully operational.

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