PharmEnable Therapeutics is breaking down the barriers of inaccessibility: for the patient, the target and the drug.
A pioneering drug discovery company, PharmEnable leverages artificial intelligence to reimagine small molecules.
Working on targets that require the exquisite specificity of biologics, it is creating much-needed treatments particularly for cancer and neurological conditions.
The team is developing a pipeline of life-changing small molecule drugs with antibody-like selectivity targeting hard-to-reach areas.
It is also working with partners across disease areas, where achieving drug selectivity and optimal properties poses a significant challenge.
“Our aim is to replicate the specificity of biologics in the powerful and scalable form of a small molecule, to treat devastating diseases where there are currently no treatment options.”
Pioneering a new frontier in small molecule medicines
PharmEnable is a biotech startup that uses AI to discover new small-molecule drugs. Founded in the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry by CEO Dr Hannah Sore, PharmEnable uses its AI-enabled platform, chemSEEK, to unlock challenging targets, particularly in oncology and neurology.
“Small molecule therapeutics have been the front-runner in drug discovery for centuries. Today, however, there has been an explosion of new drug modalities and small molecules risk being overlooked. At PharmEnable, we want to make small molecules shine again by pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved with a small-molecule medicine…”
Accessing the inaccessible, this platform allows the team to develop life-changing treatments by creating a pipeline of small-molecule drugs that can reach hard-to-treat targets. They aim to address unmet medical needs and improve patient outcomes by providing new treatment options for diseases that currently lack effective therapies.
“We are using AI to discover and develop novel small molecules with new properties to provide patients with safer and more effective treatments that can be taken from the comfort of their homes.”
Dr Hannah Sore
PharmEnable leverages its proprietary AI-enabled platform, chemSEEK, to unlock novel chemical spaces and create therapeutics with exceptional properties, including high specificity and efficacy. By exploring targets previously inaccessible, the team is pioneering novel drug candidates with improved selectivity and reduced side effects.
The PharmEnable team
PharmEnable has made significant strides in drug discovery. In their most advanced programme, this innovative approach brings the specificity of biologics into small-molecule drug design to develop a life-changing treatment for ovarian cancer.
In 2023, PharmEnable secured substantial funding to support their research and development efforts. They closed a $7.5 million Pre-Series A financing round led by MP Healthcare, the venture arm of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Group. This funding round also saw participation from existing investors such as Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, Parkwalk Advisors, and numerous other life sciences investors. These funds will be used to advance PharmEnable’s portfolio of projects in oncology and neurology, as well as to support further platform development.
Image Credits: Shutterstock, PharmEnable
