Dewpoint and ConcertAI reveal first phase of translational oncology partnership

Dewpoint Therapeutics and ConcertAI have announced the first phase of their translational oncology partnership, aligned around the former company's latest drug candidate, DPTX3186.

The approach is built around the tumor types including colorectal, breast, lung and gastric; these tumors are driven by an overactive Wnt pathway, due to uncontrolled beta catenin-dependent transcriptional activity.

DPTX3186 is a small molecule condensate modulator (c-mod) that inhibits beta catenin oncogenic function, modulating what has been described as an ‘undruggable’ therapeutic target.

The first phase of the partnership will support DPTX3186 development by optimizing patient stratification through the synergy between Dewpoint’s AI/ML-powered discovery and development platform, and CocertAI’s clinico-genomic data sets and the CARAaiTM platform.

Future phases are anticipated to similarly support other candidates in Dewpoint’s oncology pipeline, including a second beta catenin c-mod with indications for other Wnt-driven tumor types, set for investigational new drug (IND) status in 2025, and a c-mod for MYC, another ‘undruggable’ oncogene, set for IND in 2026.

Multiple partnerships

Dewpoint, a privately-held Boston, USA, firm founded in 2018, focuses on the application of biomolecular condensate biology towards the development of a new generation of therapeutics to address diseases of high unmet need. Condensates compartmentalize and integrate biochemical processes and their components.

Many diseases are regulated by, or arise from, the dysfunction of condensates. This in turn has provided new possibilities for approaching high-value targets previously deemed ‘undruggable.’

Dewpoint’s proprietary AI/ML-powered discovery and development platform supports a drug discovery pipeline that spans multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, neurodegenerative, cardiopulmonary, and metabolic diseases.

The first phase of the partnership will support DPTX3186 development by optimizing patient stratification through the synergy between Dewpoint’s AI/ML-powered discovery and development platform, and ConcertAI’s clinico-genomic data sets and the CARAaiTM platform. currently partnered with Bayer (BAYN: DE) on cardiovascular indications, Novo Nordisk (NOV: N) on diabetes, and Mitsubishi Tanabe (TYO: 4508) on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Modelling and simulation of  of new therapeutics

ConcertAI, a private company that is also based in Boston and was founded in 2018, is the leading multi-modal research-grade data-as-a-service (DaaS) and AI software-as-a-service (SaaS) company in oncology, providing solutions to nearly 50 life science companies and 2,000 healthcare providers and research sites.

The firm has raised in excess of $230 million through Series C.

Jeff Elton, chief executive of ConcertAI, said: “Discovery of new cancer medicines is complex. The number of new standard-of-care entities approved each year has been growing at an accelerated pace.

“As patients are exposed to different medicines there can be modifications to their disease and potential resistance to treatment being acquired. By assembling high-depth clinico-molecular datasets with genomic, transcriptomic and clinical depth, the collaborative ConcertAI and Dewpoint team can set a basis for the priority cancers for their new programs and inform the first-in-human and proof-of-concept studies.”

As part of the partnership, ConcertAI will provide clinico-molecular DaaS capabilities that support modelling and simulation of  of new therapeutics, bridging Dewpoint’s AI/ML-powered discovery and development platform to ConcertAI translational and clinical capabilities.

'Higher quality studies and more meaningful outcomes'

Ameet Nathwani, chief executive of Dewpoint, added: “The discovery and selection of DPTX3186, our first development candidate, underscores the merits of a new approach and fresh perspective on the biology of the most devastating diseases.

“This orally administrable small molecule condensate modulator of beta catenin is a direct product emerging from our proprietary, AI/ML-powered discovery and development platform.

“This program has demonstrated significant activity, including profound tumor regression in preclinical models across multiple Wnt-pathway driven cancers. Consistent with our data science-enabled approaches and deep partnering culture, we are excited by the prospect that working with ConcertAI may more accurately allow us to prioritize the optimal patient populations and define key characteristics of these first in human trials, resulting in higher quality studies and more meaningful outcomes.”

The specific terms of the partnership were not disclosed.