- BioNTech and InstaDeep announced a multi-year strategic collaboration on November 25, 2020.
- The collaboration includes forming an AI Innovation Lab in London and Mainz.
- Focus areas include novel mRNA-based vaccines, protein engineering, and supply chain optimization.
- InstaDeep's DeepChainTM platform will be used to design new mRNA sequences for BioNTech's RiboMabTM and RiboCytokineTM platforms.
Collaboration Announcement
On November 25, 2020, BioNTech SE and InstaDeep Ltd announced a multi-year strategic collaboration to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for developing novel immunotherapies targeting cancers and infectious diseases.
AI Innovation Lab
As part of this collaboration, the companies will establish a joint AI Innovation Lab in London, UK, and Mainz, Germany. This lab will focus on drug discovery and design, protein engineering, and optimizing manufacturing and supply chain processes.
Core Focus Areas
The collaboration will concentrate on three main areas: novel drug design, advanced analytics, and manufacturing and supply chain optimization. BioNTech will use InstaDeep’s DeepChainTM platform to engineer new mRNA sequences for its RiboMabTM and RiboCytokineTM platforms, which encode antibodies and cytokines in vivo.
Advanced Analytics and Optimization
BioNTech and InstaDeep plan to generate insights from public and proprietary datasets, including anonymized patient data, using machine learning and edge analytics. This will help identify novel biological targets and predictive biomarkers. Additionally, AI and ML applications will be employed to enhance manufacturing and supply chain processes, aiming for higher efficiencies in drug production and logistics.
Background and Future Prospects
This long-term collaboration builds on an existing relationship between the two companies, initiated in 2019. InstaDeep, headquartered in London, was recently recognized by CB Insights as one of the 100 most promising AI start-ups globally. The partnership aims to advance the next wave of innovation in precision immunotherapies and AI-driven drug development.
