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Fapon shares its visionary strategies at the Inaugural Innovative Diagnostics and Therapeutics Forum
Fapon, a leading life sciences company, announced its strategic plans in innovative diagnostics and therapeutics business at the inaugural Innovative Diagnostics and Therapeutics Forum in Suzhou, China, on 18 October 2023.
Professor Buyong MA, the founder and chief scientist of Digiwiser, a subsidiary of Fapon Group, delivered a speech on the Innovative Applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Design of Bio-molecules. His presentation explored the integration of AI in the design of biologic drugs to expedite the drug discovery process. Dr. Alex Wesselhoeft, founder of Halo Bio and co-founder of the world-leading circular RNA company Orna Therapeutics, presented on the topic of the Present and Future of Circular RNA. He also shed light on his collaboration with Fapon Group in this dynamic field.
The research and development (R&D) of a new drug is often a lengthy, expensive and highly risky process. It typically spans a decade before a new drug is ready for market release. The most recent data published in Drug Discovery Today indicate an exponential increase in the expenses associated with drug R&D [1]. The data-driven AI technology can expedite drug discovery. Based on Professor Ma's theory on conformational selectivity in drug targets, Fapon has harnessed the immense performance of computers for the design of biologic drugs. The aim of the approach is to enhance drugs efficacies through a deep understanding and analysis of drug targets, the conformational changes of drugs, and the regulation of bio-activities. Fapon has also established efficient R&D platforms for biological drugs such as its protein engineering platform and novel drug platform. These platforms effectively meet the functional needs for target discovery, biological molecule screening, and drug safety testing.
After the Nobel Prizes for 2023 announced and included scientific discoveries that led to the development of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, the leading journal Nature released an article on "Why rings of RNA could be the next blockbuster drug.[2]" Circular RNA has seen rapid development in recent years and is now the apple of investors' eyes. Dr. Alex Wesselhoeft, a world-leading circular RNA biologist introduced to the audience at the forum the technical limitations of mRNA and advantages of circular RNA and the vast potential applications that circular RNA holds. Fapon Group is joining hands with Dr. Alex to develop circular RNA technology platforms and conduct early-stage research into its innovative applications. They will focus on developing state-of-the-art baseline platforms to advance the development of the industry, including building a circular RNA design and engineering platform, a novel delivery system and innovative vaccines to address bottlenecks of the industrialization of circular RNA.
Since its inception in 2001, Fapon has strategically planed three lines of business: in-vitro diagnostics (IVD), innovative biopharma and therapeutics and AI-enabled diagnostics and therapeutics. Fapon Biotech, a subsidiary of Fapon Group, has established itself as a frontrunner in the field of IVD raw materials and has achieved remarkable growth in the open chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) instrument. Leveraging its strong foundation in raw materials, Fapon Group's innovative biopharma business focuses on tumors and auto-immune diseases while tapping into novel antibody drugs and fusion proteins. Fapon has developed world-leading platforms for antibody discovery and bispecific antibodies, and established 20 pipelines to cover the different stages of the cancer-immunity cycle.
Continuously breaking ground in the field of diagnostics and therapeutics has always been the focal point of Fapon Group. Its commitment lies in leveraging its fundamental IVD technologies for pharmaceuticals and research. Fapon seeks to foster mutual success within its ecosystem and integrate diagnostics and therapeutics.
Reference:
[1] Alexander Schuhmacher et al. Analysis of pharma R&D productivity - a new perspective needed. Drug Discov Today（2023）
