Iktos and Cube Biotech team up to advance AI-driven drug discovery

Iktos, a leader in artificial intelligence (AI)-powered drug discovery, and Cube Biotech, an innovator in membrane protein technologies, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the development of novel small molecule Amylin receptor agonists. This collaboration combines cutting-edge AI drug design and advanced protein stabilization technologies to address significant unmet needs in cardiometabolic disorders, including obesity and diabetes.

Unlocking the Potential of the Amylin Receptor

The Amylin receptor is a critical target in cardiometabolic health due to its role in regulating appetite and satiety. Despite its potential, existing therapies, such as semaglutide and Pramlintide, face challenges related to cost, accessibility, and side effects. Developing orally administered Amylin receptor agonists offers the possibility of overcoming these barriers, providing scalable and effective treatments to address obesity and its associated health risks.

Obesity remains a global epidemic, with over one-third of the population affected. Traditional treatments, though effective for some, are not universally accessible due to their high cost and injectable formats. This makes innovation in small molecule drug discovery an urgent priority.

The structural complexity of the Amylin receptor has historically hindered drug development efforts, making it a high-risk, high-reward target. By integrating Iktos’s AI capabilities with Cube Biotech’s NativeMP protein technologies, this partnership aims to unlock the receptor’s therapeutic potential.

Leveraging Advanced AI Drug Discovery

Iktos has developed a state-of-the-art AI drug discovery platform that utilizes generative chemistry to optimize molecule design for drug development. Unlike traditional methods, Iktos’s approach accounts for protein flexibility, enabling the creation of molecules with enhanced specificity and efficacy.

The company’s platform, which includes the SaaS-based Makya for generative design and Spaya for retrosynthesis, enables pharmaceutical companies to streamline research and development processes. Yann Gaston-Mathé, co-founder and CEO of Iktos, emphasized the transformative potential of this collaboration:

“Our partnership with Cube Biotech brings together complementary technologies to address some of the most complex challenges in cardiometabolic drug discovery. We believe this collaboration can pave the way for groundbreaking therapies to benefit patients worldwide.”

Advancing Membrane Protein Research

Cube Biotech brings world-class expertise in membrane protein technologies to this partnership. The company’s NativeMP platform preserves the structural integrity of membrane proteins, a crucial factor for studying the Amylin receptor. This proprietary technology ensures reliable functional assays and structural insights, providing the foundation for efficient drug discovery.

Dr. Barbara Maertens, co-founder and COO of Cube Biotech, explained the significance of their role in the collaboration:

“The Amylin receptor is a complex yet highly promising target. Through our advanced protein stabilization and characterization technologies, we aim to validate and accelerate the discovery of novel small molecule agonists, setting new benchmarks in efficiency and innovation.”

Cube Biotech’s technologies have been instrumental in overcoming longstanding challenges in membrane protein research. These innovations enable pharmaceutical companies to target previously inaccessible receptors, including G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and ion channels, which are integral to drug discovery workflows.

A Strategic Alliance for the Future of Drug Discovery

This partnership signifies a major step forward in the integration of AI and membrane protein research. By combining their expertise, Iktos and Cube Biotech aim to provide pharmaceutical companies with a comprehensive solution for tackling the most challenging drug discovery programs.

The collaboration also highlights the growing importance of precision medicine in addressing complex diseases. As obesity and related cardiometabolic disorders continue to rise globally, partnerships like this will be essential in driving innovation and improving patient outcomes.

Moreover, the focus on orally administered small molecule drugs could drastically improve accessibility, offering a more cost-effective and scalable solution compared to injectable therapies.

Industry Context and Broader Implications

The pharmaceutical industry has increasingly turned to AI and advanced protein technologies to streamline drug discovery. Tools like Iktos’s generative AI platform and Cube Biotech’s NativeMP technology are reshaping the landscape, allowing companies to overcome traditional bottlenecks in research and development.

The integration of AI with biophysical assay technologies represents a paradigm shift in how new drugs are developed, moving toward faster, more precise solutions. This collaboration sets a precedent for similar partnerships aimed at tackling complex therapeutic targets, particularly in areas with high unmet medical needs.

Iktos and Cube Biotech’s partnership underscores the potential of combining AI drug discovery with membrane protein technologies to address some of the most pressing challenges in cardiometabolic health. By focusing on the Amylin receptor, the collaboration aims to deliver scalable, effective solutions for obesity, diabetes, and related disorders.

With their complementary platforms, Iktos and Cube Biotech are not just advancing drug discovery—they are redefining what’s possible in the fight against obesity and its comorbidities.