Predictive Oncology Launches New AI Platform for Vaccine and Drug Development Targeting Coronaviruses and Acute Respiratory S...
March 12 2020 - 8:30AM
Predictive Oncology Inc. (NASDAQ: POAI) (“POAI” or “the Company”),
a knowledge-driven company focused on applying artificial
intelligence (“AI”) to personalized medicine and drug discovery,
today announces it will launch a new AI platform for vaccine and
drug development targeting Coronaviruses and Acute Respiratory
Syndromes (COVID-19, MERS, and SARS) through an operating agreement
with Soluble Therapeutics. POAI has also signed a letter of intent
with InventaBioTech to acquire Soluble Therapeutics, its assets and
its HSCTM Technology.
Global health experts are predicting an
ever-increasing number of viral outbreaks like COVID-19, POAI is
taking proactive measures to be part of the solution by applying
artificial intelligence to aid in the development of new drugs and
vaccines. Utilizing Soluble Therapeutics’ HSCTM technology and its
six machines, Soluble's computer system expects to be able to run
over 12,000 computer simulations per machine to help generate new
diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics. Soluble’s HSCTM technology
has demonstrated efficacy with both new and existing vaccine and
drug programs, ensuring the best delivery mechanisms to address new
pandemics and battle cancers.
The market for biologicals that includes
vaccines, proteins and antibodies used in disease treatment
is projected to reach $479.7 billion by 2024 at a compound annual
growth rate (CAGR) of 10.9%.* The capital the US Congress has
allocated to fight COVID-19 is $8.0 billion dollars.
Protein formulation is often a bottleneck in
protein-based drug development, and Soluble Therapeutics’
technology directly addresses this bottleneck. Combining the
HSCTM technology with POAI’s predictive modeling platform is
expected to create a new rapid AI discovery platform that quickly
and cost-effectively identifies potential therapeutic candidates.
The HSCTM technology accelerates the formulation process and is
believed to achieve in a month what can take a team of scientists
several months to a year to achieve. The HSCTM technology only
requires milligrams where a traditional formulation effort can
require up to a gram of material.
HSC™ Technology is a self-contained, automated,
chromatographic system that conducts high throughput,
microcapillary, self-interaction chromatography screens, using
additives and excipients commonly included in protein formulations.
The data generated from these screens is analyzed by a predictive
algorithm used to identify the optimal combination(s) of additives
and excipients, resulting in increased solubility and physical
stability of proteins. The system works in concert with a
predictive algorithm of formulation parameters that can be
exclusively accessed through Soluble Therapeutics.
The HSC™ Instrument, and underlying technology,
has been validated over the past ten years via industry and
academic collaborations. For biopharmaceutical clients and vaccine
manufacturers, this means faster development times and quicker
progression of molecules into the clinic. The COVID-19 vaccine
development efforts by industry and government can benefit
enormously using the Soluble HSCTM technology with POAI’s
predictive modeling platform.
“Soluble has six customized machines in its
facilities that can help identify the best solutions for vaccines,
proteins or antibodies being developed to help fight the COVID-19
contagion. Through this operating partnership and acquisition, we
are ready to assist in the development of viable treatment options
that use biological, complex ingredients and formulations to speed
up the pre-clinical and clinical development of treatments’, said
Carl Schwartz, CEO of Predictive Oncology.
“The combination of Soluble Therapeutics’
technology with Predictive Oncology’s AI capability has the
potential to rapidly optimize formulations thereby accelerating the
early phase of protein therapeutic development”, said Dr. Larry
DeLucas, co-inventor of the HSC™ technology.
Under the operating agreement, the Company and
existing Soluble managers will operate the Soluble Therapeutics
business pending the acquisition. The Company's acquisition of
Soluble Therapeutics is subject to the completion of a definitive
agreement and customary closing conditions and is expected to close
in the second quarter of 2020.
*Global Biologics Market to touch US$479 Billion
Dollars by 2024. Transparency Market Research. Feb 2018. Web.
About Predictive Oncology
Inc.
Predictive Oncology (Nasdaq: POAI) operates
through three segments (Domestic, International and other), which
contain four subsidiaries; Helomics, TumorGenesis, Skyline Medical
and Skyline Europe. Helomics applies artificial intelligence to its
rich data gathered from patient tumors to both personalize cancer
therapies for patients and drive the development of new targeted
therapies in collaborations with pharmaceutical companies.
Helomics’ CLIA-certified lab provides clinical testing that assists
oncologists in individualizing patient treatment decisions, by
providing an evidence-based roadmap for therapy. In addition to its
proprietary precision oncology platform, Helomics offers boutique
CRO services that leverage its TruTumor™, patient-derived tumor
models coupled to a wide range of multi-omics assays (genomics,
proteomics and biochemical), and an AI-powered proprietary
bioinformatics platform to provide a tailored solution to its
clients’ specific needs. Predictive Oncology’s TumorGenesis
subsidiary is developing a new rapid approach to growing tumors in
the laboratory, which essentially “fools” cancer cells into
thinking they are still growing inside a patient. Its proprietary
Oncology Discovery Technology Platform kits will assist researchers
and clinicians to identify which cancer cells bind to specific
biomarkers. Once the biomarkers are identified they can be used in
TumorGenesis’ Oncology Capture Technology Platforms which isolate
and help categorize an individual patient’s heterogeneous tumor
samples to enable the development of patient specific treatment
options. Helomics and TumorGenesis are focused on ovarian cancer.
Predictive Oncology’s Skyline Medical division markets its patented
and FDA cleared STREAMWAY System, which automates the collection,
measurement and disposal of waste fluid, including blood,
irrigation fluid and others, within a medical facility, through
both domestic and international divisions. The company has achieved
sales in five of the seven continents through both direct sales and
distributor partners. For more information, please visit
www.predictive-oncology.com.
Forward-looking Statements
Certain of the matters discussed in the press
release contain forward-looking statements that involve material
risks to and uncertainties in the Company’s business that may cause
actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the
statements made herein. Such risks and uncertainties include (i)
the risk that the acquisition of Soluble
Therapeutics will not be completed, or, if completed, that the
Soluble Therapeutics technology does not provide anticipated
benefits to the Company or involves higher costs than anticipated
or other negative consequences, (ii) risks related to the recent
merger with Helomics, including the fact that the combined company
will not be able to continue operating without additional
financing; possible failure to realize anticipated benefits of the
merger; costs associated with the merger may be higher than
expected; the merger may result in disruption of the Company’s and
Helomics’ existing businesses, distraction of management and
diversion of resources; and the market price of the Company’s
common stock may decline as a result of the merger; (iii) risks
related to our partnerships with other companies, including the
need to negotiate the definitive agreements; possible failure to
realize anticipated benefits of these partnerships; and costs of
providing funding to our partner companies, which may never be
repaid or provide anticipated returns; and (iv) other risks and
uncertainties relating to the Company that include, among other
things, current negative operating cash flows and a need for
additional funding to finance our operating plan; the terms of any
further financing, which may be highly dilutive and may include
onerous terms; unexpected costs and operating deficits, and lower
than expected sales and revenues; sales cycles that can be longer
than expected, resulting in delays in projected sales or failure to
make such sales; uncertain willingness and ability of customers to
adopt new technologies and other factors that may affect further
market acceptance, if our product is not accepted by our potential
customers, it is unlikely that we will ever become profitable;
adverse economic conditions; adverse results of any legal
proceedings; the volatility of our operating results and financial
condition; inability to attract or retain qualified senior
management personnel, including sales and marketing personnel; our
ability to establish and maintain the proprietary nature of our
technology through the patent process, as well as our ability to
possibly license from others patents and patent applications
necessary to develop products; Predictive’s ability to implement
its long range business plan for various applications of its
technology; Predictive’s ability to enter into agreements with any
necessary marketing and/or distribution partners and with any
strategic or joint venture partners; the impact of competition, the
obtaining and maintenance of any necessary regulatory clearances
applicable to applications of Predictive’s technology; and
management of growth and other risks and uncertainties that may be
detailed from time to time in the Company’s reports filed with the
SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. This is not a
solicitation to buy or sell securities and does not purport to be
an analysis of Predictive’s financial position. See Predictive’s
most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and subsequent reports and
other filings at www.sec.gov.
Contact:Bob
Myers651-389-4800bmyers@skylinemedical.com
Source: Predictive Oncology Inc.
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