InSilicoTrials wins award for its AI efforts in treatment development

InSilicoTrials (IST) has received this year’s Innovation Radar Prize for its efforts to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to advance clinical trials and predictive technologies that may benefit people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other diseases.

Launched in 2015 by the European Commission, the award recognizes European Union (EU)-funded innovators working to transition promising technologies from the lab into the real world.

“The EU’s support is vital, providing resources and a collaborative network essential for enhancing predictive tools and data-driven healthcare solutions, ultimately transforming the landscape of medical research and patient care,” Luca Emili, CEO of InSilicoTrials, said in a company press release.

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The company’s award, in the category of AI and smart devices, was announced during the Innovation Radar Summit, which took place in Lisbon on Nov. 13. IST was one of 12 finalists, and one of three that received funding from the European Health and Digital Executive Agency.

IST was launched in 2012 with the goal of revolutionizing therapeutic and medical device development by harnessing the power of computational modelling and simulation platforms — known as in silico technologies.

These technologies help to cut costs and save time during the development of novel therapies and medical devices, ultimately getting these treatments to market and accessible to patients without delays. The company also aims to use AI and computer models to reduce, or replace, the use of animals in research.

IST is involved in four ongoing projects funded by the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe, to advance healthcare and pharmaceutical research.

One such project, called BRAINTEASER, involves the development of a system of wearable sensors to collect large amounts of data, including data related to the user’s health, lifestyle habits, and environment, that can help predict outcomes for people with MS and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The data will be used to shed light on disease mechanisms, promote early detection, and help prevent complications of disease onset.

Another project is called In Silico World. It aims to accelerate the use of in silico technologies as a potential replacement for cultured cells and animal models when testing therapeutic and medical devices. Currently, it is leveraging state-of-the-art computational technologies to advance in silico solutions for 11 diseases, including MS.

The company is also involved in SimCardioTest and METASTRA. SimCardioTest brings together 10 organizations across Europe and the U.S. to develop new predictive tools for heart disorders and speed the use of computer simulations in the assessment of therapies and medical devices.

METASTRA, on the other hand, is developing new ways for clinicians to assess the risk of fractures in cancer patients with metastases in the spine. It also aims to build AI models that provide tailored treatment recommendations based on each person’s risk of fractures.

“Our involvement in the SimCardioTest, BRAINTEASER, In Silico World, and METASTRA projects, supported by EU funding, enables us to contribute to the democratization of in-silico methods in the development of new drugs and medical devices,” Emili said.