Lantern Pharma Publishes PCT Patent for AI Model Predicting BBB Permeability
Lantern Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRN), a leading artificial intelligence (AI) company dedicated to advancing cancer therapies and transforming the efficiency and timeline of oncology drug discovery and development, has announced the publication of its PCT patent application (PCT/US2024/019851). This patent covers a novel machine learning-based solution designed to predict blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, a key factor in developing therapies for central nervous system (CNS) disorders and brain cancers. The application has received a favorable PCT search report, indicating no significant prior art and significantly strengthening its potential for approval.
Revolutionizing Drug Discovery with AI-Powered BBB Permeability Prediction
Lantern Pharma’s proprietary technology has demonstrated exceptional performance in predicting BBB permeability across a vast range of chemical compounds. The system is capable of processing up to 100,000 molecules per hour with industry-leading accuracy. This breakthrough positions Lantern as a leader in AI-driven drug discovery, particularly in identifying and optimizing compounds with high potential for crossing the blood-brain barrier.
Notably, Lantern’s AI algorithms currently occupy five of the top eleven positions on the Therapeutic Data Commons Leaderboard for BBB permeability prediction. The ability to accurately predict whether a molecule can penetrate the BBB is crucial in CNS drug development, as many promising drug candidates fail due to inadequate permeability. By leveraging this predictive capability, pharmaceutical researchers and biotech companies can accelerate early-stage drug discovery while reducing costs and attrition rates.
A Transformative Innovation in AI-Driven Drug Development
“The publication of this PCT patent application represents a significant advancement in our AI-driven approach to drug development,” stated Panna Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of Lantern Pharma. “This innovative technology not only enhances our internal development capabilities but also offers transformative potential for our partners and collaborators across the pharmaceutical industry. The system’s exceptional speed and accuracy in predicting BBB permeability positions Lantern at the forefront of CNS-targeted therapeutic development. We look forward to deploying this high-performing BBB model in collaboration with pharmaceutical partners and techbio-driven companies who seek to accelerate their development timelines while working with a partner committed to excellence, especially in the area of high-performing, predictive models for drug development.”
This proprietary machine learning technology integrates advanced molecular representation techniques with synthetic data augmentation, combining features engineered from chemical structures and bioactivity data. The resulting information is then processed using cutting-edge machine learning algorithms. When integrated with Lantern’s RADR® AI platform, the system enables a rapid and comprehensive assessment of drug candidates, ensuring a more efficient selection process for CNS-targeted therapies.
Strategic Implementation in Lantern’s Drug Development Pipeline
Lantern Pharma’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Starlight Therapeutics, is set to implement this technology to advance the development of STAR-001, a promising drug candidate targeting aggressive brain tumors. Additionally, Lantern is actively expanding the system’s capabilities by developing sophisticated sub-models to account for complex biological factors affecting BBB permeability. These enhancements are expected to refine predictions further by incorporating critical elements such as protein binding, active transport mechanisms, and disease-state modifications of the blood-brain barrier.
By continuously improving the predictive accuracy of its AI models, Lantern Pharma aims to strengthen its position as a leader in AI-driven drug development. This evolution demonstrates the company’s commitment to integrating state-of-the-art computational techniques with biological insights to develop next-generation therapies.
Broad Patent Protection and Expedited Market Deployment
The PCT application enables Lantern to seek patent protection in major global markets, providing potential coverage extending 20 years from the filing date. Additionally, the company has initiated an expedited review process in the United States to accelerate the market deployment of its innovative AI-driven BBB permeability prediction system. If granted, this patent will not only reinforce Lantern’s leadership in AI-powered drug discovery but also create new collaboration opportunities with pharmaceutical and biotech companies focused on CNS therapeutics.
Enhancing Drug Development Efficiency and Collaboration Opportunities
Lantern Pharma’s AI-driven approach represents a paradigm shift in drug discovery, significantly reducing both the cost and time required for early-stage drug development. By identifying viable CNS drug candidates with high BBB permeability at an unprecedented rate, the company is paving the way for more effective and targeted treatments for brain cancers and neurological disorders.
The integration of machine learning into drug discovery is becoming increasingly essential in overcoming long-standing challenges in CNS therapeutics. Traditional drug discovery methods rely on extensive laboratory experiments, which can be time-consuming and expensive. Lantern’s AI-driven BBB prediction technology circumvents these inefficiencies by providing highly accurate in silico assessments, allowing researchers to focus their resources on the most promising candidates. This efficiency not only accelerates Lantern’s internal drug development efforts but also offers a valuable tool for external partners seeking to streamline their R&D pipelines.
The Future of AI in CNS Drug Development
Lantern Pharma’s advancements in AI and machine learning are reshaping the landscape of drug discovery, particularly for challenging areas such as CNS and oncology therapeutics. The ability to predict BBB permeability with high accuracy is a game-changer, as it enables researchers to overcome one of the primary barriers to effective brain-targeted drug development.
Looking ahead, Lantern plans to continue refining its AI models by incorporating additional layers of biological complexity, including genetic and epigenetic factors that influence drug permeability. By leveraging large-scale data integration and machine learning, the company aims to develop increasingly precise predictive models that can further revolutionize CNS drug development.
The pharmaceutical industry is rapidly embracing AI-powered tools, and Lantern Pharma’s latest innovation underscores the potential of machine learning to drive significant advancements in precision medicine. By reducing the cost and failure rates associated with CNS drug development, the company is positioning itself at the forefront of AI-driven innovation in the biopharmaceutical space.
