Graph Therapeutics (Graph) and the Botnar Institute of Immune Engineering (BIIE) announce a strategic research collaboration that combines Graph's multi-generation AI-driven precision immunology platform with BIIE's cutting-edge primary immune modeling capabilities. This collaboration creates new opportunities for innovation at the intersection of academia and techbio, with the goal of accelerating the development of treatments for patients with immune diseases.
The collaboration, which has the potential for multiple projects, combines expertise in precision drug discovery with leading immune system research. Together, the goal is to create new precision medicines for immune-mediated diseases affecting individuals and patients worldwide.
Under the agreement, both organizations will share resources, expertise, data and infrastructure to advance joint research programs. Key focus areas include computational modeling and identification of novel biology for new medicines against diseases affecting the immune system. The partnership includes provisions for joint researchers, publication opportunities, and intellectual property development. Key members of the collaboration leadership have a decade-long history of working together at the intersection of academic research and commercial innovation, with numerous high impact clinically-linked successes.
"This collaboration represents a natural evolution of our 'lab-in-the-loop' approach to precision immunology," says Graph co-founder and CEO Gregory Vladimer, PhD. "The BIIE's and the Snijder Lab’s leading expertise in the systematic and molecular study of the immune system perfectly complements our AI platform's capabilities. Together, we can address the critical unmet medical needs across immune-mediiated conditions. Having worked with Berend through many entities, we know this partnership will accelerate our shared mission to drive precision medicine in immunology."
"Graph's approach to combining primary patient disease models with advanced AI represents exactly the kind of translational innovation needed to bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and clinical impact," says BIIE Faculty Member Berend Snijder, PhD. "This collaboration will allow us to apply Graph's proven platform to immune challenges while extending their capabilities into new therapeutic areas, a significant step forward in bridging the gap between discoveries made in the lab and clinical impact. The potential to transform how we develop therapies for patients with immune-mediated diseases is tremendous."
"This collaboration with Graph exemplifies BIIE's commitment to building sustained partnerships that advance our mission of developing immune engineering solutions for children globally," says CEO Stephen Wilson, PhD. "Rather than traditional technology transfer models, we're creating an ongoing partnership where both organizations continue to strengthen each other's capabilities. This collaborative approach will accelerate our ability to translate immune engineering discoveries into real-world solutions for pediatric patients worldwide."
This collaboration comes at a pivotal time when inflammation and immunology (I&I) has emerged as a significant therapeutic area in biotech. While there is considerable investment and exploration of multiple new mechanisms, the high failure rate of I&I therapeutics in clinical trials remains a significant obstacle. Graph's platform is specifically built to tackle this issue by providing higher clinical realism at the discovery stage, improving the success rate of future therapies.
About Graph Therapeutics
Graph Therapeutics is developing a next-generation lab-in-the-loop AI platform to transform drug discovery in inflammation and immunology. Building on the team's previous success in pioneering AI approaches in precision oncology, Graph combines sophisticated live patient cell approaches with advanced machine learning to overcome the unique challenges of developing therapies for complex inflammatory diseases. The company is headquartered in Vienna, Austria.
About Botnar Institute for Immune Engineering (BIIE)
The Botnar Institute of Immune Engineering (BIIE) is a newly founded non-profit research organization focused on the advanced study of immunological systems to develop translational solutions for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. Through this mission, BIIE is committed to advancing global child and adolescent health by harnessing the potential of immune engineering to enhance the lives of children and young people globally. The institute is located in Basel, Switzerland and governed by the Foundation Immune Engineering for Global Child and Adolescent Health.
Contact
Media Contact Graph
Anna Yuwen
Graph Therapeutics
pr(at)graphtx.com
Graph Therapeutics
Xista Science Park Plöcking 1 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
office(at)graphtx.com
Media Contact BIIE
Melanie Wiesel, PhD
Botnar Institute of Immune Engineering
melanie.wiesel(at)immune.engineering
Botnar Institute of Immune Engineering
c/o ETH D-BSSE
Klingelbergstrasse 48
Deliveries: Schanzenstrasse 44 4056 Basel, Switzerlan