SandboxAQ and Michael J. Fox Foundation Launch $25M Initiative for Parkinson's Treatments

SandboxAQ has announced a significant research partnership with the University of Dundee, facilitated through a $25 million research grant provided by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF). This collaboration is a part of the LRRK2 Investigative Therapeutics Exchange (LITE) program, aimed at advancing drug candidates specifically targeting Parkinson's disease (PD).

Parkinson's disease, a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder, has seen numerous biological and genetic breakthroughs over the years. However, these discoveries have yet to translate into effective new therapies. LRRK2, a gene identified in 2004, is the most commonly associated genetic factor with Parkinson's, but a breakthrough in therapeutic interventions targeting this gene remains unrealized. The partnership between SandboxAQ and the University of Dundee aims to overcome this hurdle.

The focal point of this collaboration is the improvement of LRRK2 inhibitors. SandboxAQ will work alongside the University of Dundee to enhance the potency and specificity of these inhibitors and to identify novel compounds that act as allosteric modulators. These efforts are aligned with the goals of the MJFF's LITE program, which bridges the gap between fundamental scientific advances and industrial drug development. The program has garnered significant interest, attracting over 30 academic and clinical collaborators and more than a dozen companies.

SandboxAQ's involvement in this initiative is bolstered by their Large Quantitative Models (LQMs), which integrate artificial intelligence tools with physics-based scoring functions. This technology enables the creation of detailed models of protein-ligand complexes, rapid screening of millions of compounds, ligand identification, and small molecule design. The aim is to leverage recent LRRK2 structural data to identify or design new drug candidate molecules and to complete pre-clinical investigations. The ultimate goal is to optimize four inhibitors with distinct modes of action over the next two years.

The LITE program is structured to provide tens of millions of dollars in grant support, fostering collaboration among a wide array of scientific and clinical experts. This initiative includes a licensing agreement for SandboxAQ's LQMs, with specific milestones set for a 24-month period. Professor Dario Alessi, Director of the MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit at the University of Dundee and a leader in the LITE program, emphasized the significance of this collaboration. He noted that combining MJFF's network and expertise with SandboxAQ's AI and computational capabilities creates a powerful synergy to accelerate the development of new therapies for Parkinson's.

SandboxAQ's role in the LITE Consortium is particularly groundbreaking, as it is one of the first commercial entities to join this collaborative effort. This partnership aims to translate academic discoveries into viable therapeutic options for those suffering from Parkinson's disease. Nadia Harhen, General Manager of AI Simulation at SandboxAQ, expressed confidence that their AI simulation techniques would be instrumental in developing new drugs. She highlighted the importance of the preclinical research conducted by the University of Dundee and the potential for these discoveries to be transformed into breakthrough therapies.

In addition to this collaboration with the University of Dundee, SandboxAQ is also engaged in another research partnership with the MJFF. This includes a collaboration with Belgium-based KU Leuven's Vangheluwe Lab to identify small molecule modulators capable of restoring the function of the ATP10B gene, which is also implicated in Parkinson's disease.

SandboxAQ is a B2B company specializing in delivering AI solutions across various sectors, including life sciences, financial services, navigation, and cybersecurity. Founded as an independent entity from Alphabet Inc. in 2022, SandboxAQ is supported by prominent investors and continues to focus on addressing some of the world's most significant challenges through its advanced AI technologies.