KQ Labs, a programme delivered by the Francis Crick Institute and funded by LifeArc, is proud to announce its first exit as Glamorous AI, a company that was part of KQ Labs’ third cohort, has been acquired by X-Chem, the US based global leader in DNA-encoded library (DEL) driven discovery solutions.

Glamorous AI is a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for drug discovery. GlamorousAI is radically changing how drugs are designed and optimised using their proprietary artificial intelligence platform, RosalindAI, and applying it to low and sparse data problems inherent to drug discovery.

X-Chem is the pioneer of DNA-encoded library (DEL) technology and a recognized leader in generating actionable results to drive small molecule drug discovery and the first to demonstrate applying machine learning to large, high quality, DEL datasets can accelerate hit generation. The acquisition of the innovative AI capabilities of Glamorous AI positions X-Chem as a leading service provider in machine learning-driven drug discovery.

Noor Shaker, CEO and Founder of Glamorous AI said: “Glamorous AI is one of a few fortunate startups to have been accepted to the KQ labs programme. The programme provided a great opportunity to be part of an innovative ecosystem and connect with likeminded founders looking to transform the life sciences industry. With its focus on healthcare and life sciences, the programme has helped us build and strengthen our connections with the industry.”

Barbara Domayne-Hayman, who leads the KQ Labs programme, commented: “We are very excited that Glamorous AI has achieved this excellent result, and in such a short space of time. The greater resources that X-Chem can bring will enable wider uptake of Glamorous AI’s platform technology. We wish the Glamorous AI team every success in their next phase as they transition to the X-Chem organisation”.

Financial details were not disclosed.

Notes to editors

About KQ Labs

KQ Labs is an accelerator dedicated entirely to data driven health with a global focus and providing longer term support, as we aim to catalyse the building of an ecosystem. Run by the Francis Crick Institute, funded by LifeArc, and with the support of many partners, KQ Labs offers a customised framework, providing critical expertise and support to ten carefully selected companies, all solving significant healthcare challenges. The programme includes a convertible loan (£40k), workshops with experts tailored to digital health, mentoring by a hand-picked network of experts, and introductions to investors and corporates.

The intersection between the biomedical and data sciences promises to play a transformational role in solving some of the most difficult challenges facing global health systems. The KQ Labs accelerator represents a unique opportunity to catalyse the creation of a world class sustainable digital health ecosystem based in London’s Knowledge Quarter. By harnessing the world-class data science and biomedical resources available in the area, we can reinforce the UK’s position as a major force in artificial intelligence in health and life sciences and build a world class cluster of successful data-driven health start-ups.

www.kqlabs.com

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About the Francis Crick Institute

The Francis Crick Institute is a biomedical discovery institute dedicated to understanding the fundamental biology underlying health and disease. Its work is helping to understand why disease develops and to translate discoveries into new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, infections, and neurodegenerative diseases.

An independent organisation, its founding partners are the Medical Research Council (MRC), Cancer Research UK, Wellcome, UCL (University College London), Imperial College London and King’s College London.

The Crick was formed in 2015, and in 2016 it moved into a brand new state-of-the-art building in central London which brings together 1500 scientists and support staff working collaboratively across disciplines, making it the biggest biomedical research facility under a single roof in Europe.

http://crick.ac.uk/

 


About Glamorous AI

Glamorous AI is radically changing how drugs are designed and optimised using our proprietary artificial intelligence platform, RosalindAI. RosalindAI democratizes access to cutting-edge AI and specializes in solving data challenges that makes the majority of disease-associated targets intractable by existing computational technologies. By building transformative AI solutions and integration with biology and chemistry, we empower organizations to discover new drugs and deliver the right drug to the right patient.

https://www.glamorous.ai/


About X-Chem, Inc.

X-Chem, Inc. is a leader in small molecule discovery science, providing pharmaceutical and biotech companies a complete, seamless solution for screening, hit validation and lead optimization. As pioneers of DNA-encoded chemical library (DEL) technology, the company leverages its market-leading DEL platform to discover novel small molecule leads against challenging, high-value therapeutic targets. X-Chem empowers partners to rapidly screen billions of diverse, drug-like compounds simultaneously and easily identify potent hits that exhibit desired selectivity and mode of action with attractive physicochemical properties. In-house lead optimization services enable clients to progress their compounds directly for even higher quality outputs. Our expertise in medicinal chemistry, custom synthesis and scale-up process chemistry enables us to support all aspects of drug discovery, supporting lead optimization through candidate identification.


About LifeArc

LifeArc is a self-funded medical research charity. Our mission is to advance translation of early science into health care treatments or diagnostics that can be taken through to full development and made available to patients. We have been doing this for more than 25 years and our work has resulted in a diagnostic for antibiotic resistance and four licensed medicines.

Our success allows us to explore new approaches to stimulate and fund translation. We have our own drug discovery and diagnostics development facilities, supported by experts in technology transfer and intellectual property who also provide services to other organisations. Our model is built on collaboration, and we partner with a broad range of groups including medical research charities, research organisations, industry and academic scientists. We are motivated by patient need and scientific opportunity.

Two funds help us to invest in external projects for the benefit of patients: our Philanthropic Fund provides grants to support medical research projects focused on the translation of rare diseases research and our Seed Fund is aimed at start-up companies focussed on developing new therapeutics and biological modalities. Follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter