Algorae Pharmaceuticals (ASX: 1AI) has commenced working on a Version 2.0 of its AlgoraeOS proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) biopharmaceutical prediction platform following the launch of Version 1.0 in September.

The company is collaborating on the development with experts from the AI Institute at the University of New South Wales and receiving economic support from the Data61 specialist arm of Australia’s national science agency, the CSIRO.

AlgoraeOS is wholly owned by Algorae and is expected to undergo iterative improvements over the next 30 months.

High correlation

Initial system training has indicated a high prediction correlation of major pharmaceutical synergy metrics, demonstrating confidence in the AI models built by Algorae and its team.

The company said it is working on a report detailing the scientific assessment and commercial potential of preliminary in-silico fixed dose combination drug target predictions.

Pre-clinical assessments of all drug targets generated by AlgoraeOS are under discussion with potential laboratory partners, focusing on development pathways, intellectual property strategies and commercial partnerships.

Glutamate toxicity

Algorae completed additional pre-clinical assessments of glutamate toxicity during the quarter on its AI-116 FDC drug for dementia, which comprises Donepezil and cannabinoids (CBD).

In vitro assays compared cell viability in the presence of abnormal glutamate following treatment with AI-116.

Relative to glutamate-only-treated control cells, AI-116 was found to restore a mean of 53% total relative cell viability, greater than the effect of either CBD or Donepezil alone.

AI-116 outperformance

Algorae has previously observed that AI-116 outperformed Donepezil using a pre-clinical model of neuroprotection in the presence of elevated amyloid β (Aβ).

Elevated glutamate in neuroblastoma cells can significantly contribute to the progression of dementia through mechanisms involving excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction and the interplay with Aβ and tau pathology.

These processes are neurotoxic and ultimately result in cognitive decline and memory impairment.

Cardiovascular treatment

During the three months to the end of September, Algorae progressed pre-clinical assessments at Monash University on AI-168 to understand the drug’s mechanism of action in the treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

The assessments compare AI-168 to an existing class of drugs used to treat CVD and aim to ensure that Algorae advances only those candidates that demonstrate “observable outperformance” of other pharmaceutical drugs already available on the market.

The company is eligible to receive a 43.5% rebate on all research and development activities within Australia under the federal government’s research and development tax incentive.