A US-based non-profit which aims to use drug repurposing to plug the global gap for disease treatments has received US$60m from TED’s Audacious Project to advance its work globally.
Of the approximate 18,500 recognised diseases in the world, only around 4,000 have FDA-approved treatments. Every Cure, an AI-focused biotech, aims to help change this through drug repurposing – the movement to unlock the life-saving potential of existing drugs.
Over the next five years it will use the US$60m from TED to evaluate the most promising treatments identified by its
Fajgenbaum. president of the group, says: “This is such a major step in our journey to unlock the life-saving potential of existing drugs.
“I’m alive because of a repurposed drug and we’ve been able to save the lives of other patients with repurposed drugs over the last 10 years. This funding will help us to save many more lives all around the world.”
Dr. Mitchell and his colleagues on Every Cure’s technology were involved in pioneering work to ue machine learning for drug discovery in partnership with biopharmaceutical companies.
Mitchell, who serves as CEO, says: “We believe that repurposing existing treatments is the fastest and most efficient approach to addressing critical health challenges and maximising the return on investment for saving lives.”
According to the organisation, over 80 per cent of currently FDA-approved treatments are generic or off-patent and could hold the key to new treatments.
It cites systemic barriers and a lack of financial incentives as factors hindering further research on these medications, resulting in these life-saving drugs remaining underutilised on pharmacy shelves; while patients continue to suffer from limited or no treatment options.
Every Cure’s AI data engine generates predictive efficacy scores for FDA-approved drugs across all diseases. Backed with its new funding, it will support essential research and clinical initiatives, with the aim of securing rapid access to identified therapies for patients in need.
The Audacious Project is a collaborative funding initiative housed within TED that “empowers changemakers to transform their innovative ideas for solving the world’s greatest challenges into viable multi-year initiatives”.
Each year, it partners with visionary philanthropists to launch these initiatives into the world.
“We are thrilled to support Every Cure’s visionary mission to save lives by finding new uses for generic and off-patent drugs,” said Anna Verghese, executive director of The Audacious Project.
“With the funding catalysed through The Audacious Project, Every Cure has the potential to change the lives of the 300 million people lacking access to safe and effective treatments.”
