Two companies are collaborating to develop AI-driven MS therapies targeting myelin repair in multiple sclerosis and related disorders.
By combining two distinct artificial intelligence platforms, the companies hope to create the first treatment capable of actively restoring the protective myelin coating around nerve fibres, potentially reversing neurological symptoms that current medications cannot address.
The collaboration between Evogene and Unravel Biosciences centres on a biological pathway involved in myelin loss discovered by Unravel’s BioNAV platform.
Evogene will now use its computational engine, ChemPass AI, to design small-molecule drugs tailored to that pathway.
These molecules are being engineered to cross the blood-brain barrier, a major hurdle in treating brain disorders.
The goal is to develop the first treatment that promotes myelin repair and improves neurological function in people with demyelinating conditions.
Ofer Haviv, Evogene’s president and chief executive, said: “This collaboration with Unravel Biosciences integrates cutting-edge scientific innovation with urgent clinical needs.
“Unravel has achieved the critical, complex work of identifying and validating a novel, druggable target that can reverse demyelination.
“We expect our joint effort to pave the way for transformative treatments for patients who today have limited therapeutic options.”
In MS, the immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath, the protective coating around nerve fibres that ensures efficient transmission of nerve signals.
While available disease-modifying therapies help reduce relapses and slow progression, they have limited ability to induce myelin repair and restore lost functions.
Unravel’s platform uses patient-derived molecular data to create living molecular twins, or virtual replicas of an individual’s biology that can simulate responses to treatment.
These models enable researchers to identify novel targets and drugs for a given condition, conduct preclinical screening tests and clinically validate their drugs.
Richard Novak, Unravel Biosciences’ chief executive, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Evogene to design optimised new therapeutic candidates to promote remyelination for MS and other neurodegenerative disorders.
“The synergistic combination of Evogene’s ChemPassAI engine and generative chemistry together with Unravel’s Living Molecular Twins demonstrates the acceleration of drug development driven by novel data and advanced algorithms, since patients cannot wait.”
