Iktos Acquires Synsight, a Life Sciences Tech Firm Specializing in Drug Discovery

Iktos, an AI and Robotics specialist in drug discovery, has announced the acquisition of Synsight, a French biotech firm known for its innovative use of AI and high-content cell imaging to discover new drug candidates. This acquisition is set to enhance Iktos' already unique platform, which leverages AI and Robotics to accelerate the traditionally labor-intensive process of drug discovery.

Synsight has pioneered MT Bench™, a technology under an exclusive license from INSERM that excels in detecting protein-protein (PPI) and RNA-protein interactions (RPI) within cells. This technology facilitates the screening of molecules capable of modulating these interactions, offering unprecedented performance in this domain.

Iktos has established itself as a leading European company in AI for Drug Discovery, showcasing a strong track record of collaborations with biopharmaceutical companies. They are developing Iktos Robotics, an AI-driven robotic synthesis platform designed to automate and expedite the drug discovery process. The integration of Synsight’s MT Bench technology will add a crucial complementary element to this platform: the biological testing of synthesized compounds. Previously, Iktos outsourced this testing; now, they can internalize it, significantly speeding up the design-make-test cycle.

This integration will also pave the way for Iktos to launch drug discovery programs aimed at PPIs and RPIs, which are pivotal in many diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Synsight’s screening platform, which incorporates AI, cellular imaging, and robotization, aligns perfectly with Iktos’ ambition to create a comprehensive AI and Robotics-enabled discovery platform.

Founded by Cyril Bauvais and Guillaume Bollot, Synsight operates from the Evry Genopole and collaborates with Université Evry Paris Saclay's UMR 1204 SABNP laboratory. The company utilizes cellular imaging, AI, and robotization to discover drug candidates targeting PPIs and RPIs.

Yann Gaston-Mathé, co-founder and CEO of Iktos, emphasized that this acquisition is a significant milestone for Iktos. He noted that Iktos has been a leader in AI-driven Drug Discovery, overcoming bottlenecks in challenging programs and accelerating the identification of drug candidates. The acquisition of Synsight allows Iktos to expand its platform to include new modulators of PPIs and RPIs, which are historically challenging targets. This addresses major unmet medical needs in various therapeutic areas, such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Alexis Denis, SVP and Head of Drug Discovery at Iktos, highlighted the importance of PPI and RPI targets, stating that they regulate crucial biological mechanisms and play major roles in numerous diseases. Despite being highly promising, these targets are notoriously difficult to drug. Synsight’s MT Bench technology is an excellent tool for studying these interactions and identifying novel molecules to modulate them. Combined with Iktos' Generative AI technology and Robotics platform, they now possess a unique tool to make significant breakthroughs in this promising but challenging field.

Cyril Bauvais, co-founder and President of Synsight, expressed his enthusiasm about joining the Iktos team and integrating their platforms to build a unique drug discovery engine. He is optimistic that the combination of Iktos' superior generative AI and retrosynthesis AI technology with Synsight's expertise in high-content cellular screening will provide a competitive advantage in targeting PPIs and RPIs. He looks forward to a successful collaboration with the new colleagues at Iktos.

Iktos, a French start-up, specializes in applying artificial intelligence and robotic solutions to medicinal chemistry and new drug design. Their proprietary generative AI solution designs molecules optimized to meet the success criteria of small molecule discovery projects, resulting in major productivity gains in pharmaceutical R&D. Iktos offers this technology through SaaS platforms Makya™ and Spaya™, and through strategic collaborations with pharmaceutical companies. They have also developed Iktos Robotics to automate and accelerate the drug discovery cycle and are working on their own pipeline of drug candidates targeting oncology and autoimmune diseases.

Synsight focuses on discovering and developing therapeutic molecules that target protein-RNA interactions, leveraging a platform that combines AI and cellular imaging to develop therapeutic projects.