AI Startup Tackles 'Undruggable' Diseases

Peptris Technologies, a Bengaluru startup founded in 2019, is using artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate drug discovery and target hard-to-treat diseases. The company has already made significant progress, out-licensing a repurposed drug candidate, PEPR124 (RT001), to Revio Therapeutics for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The disease, which affects roughly 400,000 people in India, is a prime example of the kind of condition that Peptris is trying to tackle. By leveraging AI, the company aims to compress early-stage timelines and identify potential molecules for diseases with significant unmet medical needs.

Peptris's approach has already shown promise, with its molecule, originally used to treat diabetes, receiving orphan drug designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). This designation is a significant milestone, as it recognizes the potential of the molecule to treat a rare and serious disease.

The company's success has been supported by funding through a Series A round and a government grant from the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund. Peptris was also incubated at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) campus in Bengaluru, which has provided a supportive environment for the company to grow and develop its technology.

## What's at Stake The use of AI in drug discovery has the potential to revolutionize the way we approach the development of new treatments. By targeting hard-to-treat diseases and identifying potential molecules more quickly, companies like Peptris can help to address significant unmet medical needs. However, the space is becoming increasingly competitive, with biotech firms and major pharmaceutical companies also turning to AI to accelerate their own drug discovery efforts. As such, Peptris will need to continue to innovate and establish a distinct niche in order to remain competitive.

## Why it Matters The impact of Peptris's work could be significant, particularly for patients with diseases like Duchenne muscular dystrophy. By providing new hope for the treatment of these conditions, the company can help to improve the lives of thousands of people in India and around the world. As the company continues to grow and develop its technology, it will be exciting to see the potential benefits that its approach can bring to the field of drug discovery.