What's Happening?
Apheris, a Berlin-based company, has launched the ADMET Network, a federated initiative that allows pharmaceutical companies to collaboratively train models for absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) predictions without
sharing proprietary data. The network includes founding members such as Lundbeck, Orion Pharma, and Recursion, who have committed significant data to train a global ADMET foundation model. This initiative aims to address the high failure rate in drug discovery by improving ADMET predictions, which are crucial for the success of clinical trials.
Why It's Important?
The ADMET Network represents a significant advancement in the use of artificial intelligence in drug discovery. By enabling secure data sharing and collaboration among pharmaceutical companies, the network aims to improve the accuracy of ADMET predictions, which are critical for reducing the high failure rates in drug development. This collaborative approach could lead to faster and more cost-effective drug discovery processes, ultimately benefiting patients by bringing new treatments to market more quickly.
What's Next?
The ADMET Network is designed to be a continuous learning collaboration, open to new members. As more pharmaceutical and biotech companies join, the network's chemical coverage will expand, enhancing the model's effectiveness. Apheris plans to extend the network to include additional drug modalities, such as PROTACs and peptides. The success of this initiative could pave the way for similar collaborative efforts in other areas of drug discovery, leveraging AI to overcome data limitations and accelerate innovation.
