Belgian biotech Rejuvenate Biomed has teamed up with data and AI solutions company SAS to create a tool for researchers to repurpose existing drugs to tackle age-related diseases at their core.
The low-code tool aims to simplify the process of analysing biomedical data. It will use SAS’s analytics to reveal hidden biological patterns and interactions, allowing researchers to create detailed reports with SAS visual analytics. The tool will be built on SAS Viya, a cloud-based AI and data platform.
According to the companies, the tool is designed to be user-friendly for researchers who don’t have a wealth of coding experience but will also be powerful enough for advanced teams working on complex biological problems.
Founded in 2017, Rejuvenate raised €15.7m ($16.9m) in a Series B round led by Zürich-based biotech Rejuveron Life Sciences in 2021. The funds built on a €3.2m ($3.46m) Series A in the same year.
The start-up has five assets under its belt, developed using its CombinAge and CelegAge drug delivery platforms. Its flagship drug, RJx-01, is ready for Phase II testing and has shown promise in a Phase I trial for the treatment of sarcopenia, otherwise known as muscle loss.
Rejuvenates CEO Ann Beliën said: “Our partnership with SAS amplifies the core strengths of both our R&D teams. By embracing this partnership and leveraging the capabilities of SAS Viya, we expect to meaningfully de-risk and accelerate the development of our internal portfolio while enhancing our discovery platform and partnering capabilities.”
As people live longer and the ageing population grows, more innovators are entering the field with AI-based solutions. A June 2024 study published in Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence introduced a novel deep neural network (DNN) model with an effective algorithm for the early diagnosis and intervention of osteoporosis, a common metabolic brain disorder in the elderly.
It’s not only in the treatment space where AI is being utilised. Professionals in the field have emphasised how the use of generative AI, large language models (LLMs), and robotics can be used to inform and educate people about healthcare needs from an early stage, to ensure optimal ageing and ultimately improve well-being as they enter old age.
According to a report on GlobalData’s Medical Intelligence Center, the AI in the medical market was worth $336m in 2022 and is expected to grow to $1.2 bn by 2027.
GlobalData is the parent company of Pharmaceutical Technology.
