Clinical stage infectious disease pharmaceutical company Poolbeg Pharma has signed a deal with CytoReason for the artificial intelligence firm to provide analysis of its influenza disease progression data derived from human challenge study samples.

CytoReason will use its AI models -- which can extrapolate immune cell behaviour based on bulk transcriptomics, the study of RNA transcripts produced by genomes -- to analyse Poolbeg's repository of influenza trial data and identify drug targets.

The deal comes at a time when the influenza threat is significant, with 5-10m hospitalisations and 500,000 deaths each year prior to the pandemic. Poolbeg said the deal was a "significant milestone" in its strategy to leverage its databank to identify new pharmaceutical assets using AI.

This exciting deal is all about creating opportunities. Opportunities to unlock the potential of our unique bank of human challenge data," Jeremy Skillington, CEO of Poolbeg Pharma, said. "Opportunities to develop drugs for infectious disease more quickly and cost effectively. And opportunities to tackle the growing global threat of influenza.

"This is the first time AI analysis will be undertaken on influenza human challenge trial data and we look forward to the results early next year. We are delighted to be working with such an industry leading partner as CytoReason and using cutting-edge AI technology as we continue to develop and progress our innovative infectious disease drug pipeline."

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CytoReason's computational disease models for effective drug discovery and development are used by the likes of Pfizer, Sanofi, Merck KGaA and Roche, and Poolbeg credited the quality of its databank for its ability to execute the deal.

Poolbeg said the deal would enable a deep understanding of the mechanism of influenza infection and recovery and, as a result, help identify novel drug targets for the disease. By utilising AI, the company said it would identify more targets, quicker and more cost effectively than previously possible without this technology.

The company's datasets for influenza are already compatible with CytoReason's platform algorithms, and the project is due to commence immediately, with a full work programme agreed and the first results expected early next year.

CytoReason's machine learning algorithm works by combing through repositories of clinical data to build models of human disease, which can then be used to identify targets, prioritise mono/combination therapies, and find biomarkers.

CytoReason will also build a tailored AI model using existing data in conjunction with Poolbeg's data to "maximise the insights generated", which allow it to prioritise new drug targets quickly and cost effectively, in a manner consistent with Poolbeg's business model.

Based on the insights generated by the analysis, Poolbeg plans to continue clinical development to rapidly generate early human proof of concept data for influenza, with the ultimate aim of monetising the asset through partnerships and licensing deals with pharma and biotech companies.

Poolbeg said it would be the first time an AI has been undertaken on influenza human challenge disease progression data and samples, which are unique in that they track a healthy subject through the disease to recovery in carefully controlled and monitored isolation units.

CytoReason will analyse blood transcriptomics, proteomics, DNA sequences and viral loads and disease signs and symptoms from the human challenge studies, which are controlled clinical infection trials whereby individuals are intentionally exposed to a virus to assess the impact of treatment.

"We are excited about the potential of Poolbeg's data and are delighted to be the first AI company to analyse Influenza human challenge data," David Harel, CEO of CytoReason, said. 

"Our top-tier scientists, along with our platform of computational disease models, will enable Poolbeg to significantly shorten the drug discovery time for Influenza treatments, dramatically reduce the costs involved, and ultimately help more patients."

Photo: Poolbeg Pharma CEO Jeremy Skillington.