receives CAD$2.4M grant for a multi-targeted drug discovery program to advance non-hormonal contraceptive medicines
Summary
Cyclica receives a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to apply its AI-enabled drug discovery platform to discover new therapeutic options for multiple low-data biological targets with the goal of expanding the range of accessible non-hormonal contraceptive choices for women in developing countries.TORONTO, CANADA November 15, 2022: Cyclica Inc., a neo-biotech that is unlocking the protein universe to discover the medicines of tomorrow, is developing new, non-hormonal contraceptives for low-data biological protein targets with support from a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.The CAD$2.4M grant enables Cyclica to apply its validated, AI-enabled drug discovery platform towards the discovery of expanded contraceptive options that can give women and girls the ability to better plan their families and their futures.Historically, hormone-based contraceptives are known to cause wide-ranging side effects that reduce their appeal. A widely available non-hormonal contraceptive would provide an additional safe, effective choice for women and girls looking to take charge of their reproductive health. Among women who want to delay or avoid pregnancy, concerns about side effects are the most common reason they give for not using modern contraception. We have the experience needed to tackle this currently undrugged, high-need opportunity, and progress it to the clinic on a faster and less costly trajectory than that offered by traditional methods, said Mike Palovich, chief science officer of Cyclica. Cyclica has brought together a diverse and experienced team of biologists, chemists, computer scientists, and business professionals who are collectively passionate about changing the drug discovery paradigm.