Ventus Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, announced a multi-year collaboration with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, to discover and optimize novel small-molecule candidates for challenging targets in major disease areas using Ventus’ proprietary drug discovery platform, ReSOLVE.

Under the terms of the agreement, Ventus will use ReSOLVE for virtual screening and lead identification of novel small molecules against multiple targets, and Genentech will conduct subsequent preclinical development, clinical development, and commercialization. 

ReSOLVE combines artificial intelligence, machine learning, protein science, structural biology, and biophysics to generate precise and dynamic water networks in protein pockets. Its output, the hydrocophore, can be used to support lead identification and lead optimization for novel small-molecule therapeutics at a fraction of the time and cost of traditional screening processes.

In addition, Ventus may leverage ReSOLVE to support other discovery programs at Genentech. Ventus will receive an upfront payment and is eligible for further preclinical, development, and commercial milestones exceeding $460 million plus tiered royalties on net sales.

“ReSOLVE uniquely models the structure of water in motion to better understand protein structures, thereby shortening the drug discovery timeline and accelerating patient benefit,” said Michael Crackower, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Ventus. 

“Roche and Genentech are continuing to invest in breakthrough technologies that help us to bring differentiated therapies to patients,” said Boris L. Zaïtra, Head of Roche Corporate Business Development. “Collaborating with biotech companies such as Ventus, which brings a unique computational approach to drug discovery, has the potential to generate innovative medicines for long-standing challenging targets.”