Case Studies

Context & Objective

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• In early 2023, a leading global biotech company sought extended Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) support to accelerate its research and development programs in therapeutic discovery. The company aimed to expand its capabilities across several fronts, from identifying novel therapeutic targets to validating drugs in animal and cell culture models.
• To meet these goals, they required specialized support in molecular biology, computational biology, data science, medical expertise, and administrative functions. The objective was to provide robust end-to-end scientific and operational support, ensuring effective coordination across multiple projects and therapeutic modalities, including small molecules, peptides, mRNA, and antibody-based therapies.

Approach & Solution

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To address these needs, a multidisciplinary team was assembled to offer a wide range of expertise:

• Molecular Biologists: Focused primarily on target discovery, the molecular biologists were of great help in the identification of novel therapeutic targets through early preclinical research. They played a central role in the selection and prioritization of disease indications, helping to align experimental strategies with therapeutic goals. Their efforts were crucial in translating basic research findings into actionable therapeutic leads.
• Computational Biologists: Key contributors in both target discovery and molecule design and synthesis, computational biologists applied advanced bioinformatics tools and predictive algorithms to identify and prioritize therapeutic targets. Their expertise in data analysis allowed them to guide the design of novel small molecules and peptides, optimizing these compounds against specified biological targets. Additionally, they coordinated and designed experiments in animal and cell culture models, working closely with Contract Research Organizations (CROs) to validate drug candidates efficiently.
• Data Science Engineers: Played a key role in innovation by developing custom ML solutions, including knowledge graphs to map relationships between therapeutic targets, disease pathways, and drugs. They integrated LLM-based agents to assist in drug research, generating insights and accelerating hypothesis building. Their models supported the identification and validation of ideal disease indications and aided in the design of novel therapeutic agents targeting specific molecular pathways.
• Medical Professionals: Provided crucial insights into the therapeutic relevance of identified targets and potential agents, ensuring alignment with clinical needs. Their expertise was especially valuable in the selection and prioritization of disease indications for both small molecules and peptide-based therapies.
• Administrative Support: Facilitated seamless communication across the multidisciplinary teams, coordinated project timelines, and ensured that all necessary documentation and reporting were completed accurately. This team also prepared detailed reports for presentations and helped plan validation experiments.

The projects executed under this collaborative effort included:

• Designing experiments in animal and cell culture models to validate novel drugs and coordinating with CROs to conduct the experiments.
• Designing new therapeutic agents using a small molecule discovery module against specified targets.
• Developing peptide-based therapeutic agents by selecting and prioritizing therapeutic targets in specific disease indications.
• Identifying new therapeutic targets for mRNA-based modalities.
• Identifying targets for antibody-based therapeutics.

Outcome & Impact

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The extended FTE support provided has had a significant impact on the company's R&D efforts:

• Target Identification: New therapeutic targets were identified for mRNA and antibody-based modalities, expanding the company's therapeutic pipeline into cutting-edge areas.
• Efficient Experimentation: By coordinating closely with CROs and optimizing experimental designs, the molecular and computational biologists helped reduce the time required for validation experiments, improving overall project efficiency.
• Streamlined Reporting: The administrative and scientific teams ensured that all experiments, findings, and strategies were clearly communicated through detailed reports and presentations, enabling informed decision-making at critical project milestones.