The Drug Discovery World Podcast
How AI and Robotics Designed New Cancer Therapies
Why It Matters
The discussion showcases how AI and robotics can accelerate the discovery of safer, more effective immuno‑oncology drugs, addressing a major unmet need in solid‑tumor treatment. For investors, clinicians, and researchers, the episode highlights a tangible example of technology reducing development timelines and expanding therapeutic options across multiple cancer types and other disease areas.
Key Takeaways
- •AI-driven AVA platform accelerates multi-parameter protein design
- •T-cell engager LGTX-101 eliminates tumors in mouse models
- •Non-intuitive design targets Nectin-4 while sparing healthy cells
- •Two million designs screened, yielding candidates in six-week cycles
- •Sanofi partnership validates platform across oncology and autoimmune pipelines
Pulse Analysis
The DDW Podcast episode spotlights LabGenius Therapeutics’ AVA platform, a fusion of high-throughput robotics and machine-learning algorithms that tackles the complexity of non-intuitive protein design in immuno-oncology. By simultaneously optimizing potency, safety, manufacturability and stability, the system evaluates up to two million candidate sequences and narrows them down through iterative design-build-test-learn cycles lasting five to six weeks. This data-driven loop replaces traditional trial-and-error engineering, allowing scientists to explore vast molecular spaces that would be impossible to screen manually. The result is a rapid, scalable pipeline that accelerates discovery of next-generation biologics.
Central to LabGenius’ pipeline is a novel T-cell engager, LGTX-101, which bridges CD3-positive T cells to tumor cells expressing Nectin-4, a protein over-expressed in bladder, triple-negative breast, head-and-neck and other hard-to-treat cancers. Pre-clinical studies demonstrated complete tumor regression in mouse models at low doses of 0.1 mg kg⁻¹, highlighting a high therapeutic index that spares Nectin-4-positive normal tissues such as skin. By re-educating endogenous T cells rather than delivering cytotoxic payloads, the engager promises efficacy without the skin toxicities observed with existing Nectin-4 antibody-drug conjugates, potentially expanding treatment options across multiple solid-tumor indications.
The episode also underscores LabGenius’ strategic relevance beyond oncology. A renewed partnership with Sanofi leverages the AVA platform to optimize nanobodies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, confirming the technology’s versatility across therapeutic classes. Successful IND-enabling work on LGTX-101 aims for a first-in-human trial in early 2027, positioning the company to challenge current Nectin-4 ADCs and set a new standard for selective immuno-oncology agents. For investors and drug-discovery professionals, LabGenius exemplifies how AI-guided, robotic automation can compress timelines, reduce attrition, and unlock biologics that were previously deemed undruggable.
Episode Description
The latest episode of the DDW 'In Conversation With' series is available to listen to below.
This week, Bruno Quinney speaks to Angus Sinclair, Chief Scientific Officer at LabGenius Therapeutics. LabGenius is a biotech using AI and robotics to design new cancer therapies, and in vivo efficacy data reveals the company's novel T-cell engager shows complete tumour elimination in mice.
Bruno talks to Angus about what T-cell engagers actually are, how AI is driving the company's approach, and why non-intuitive protein design is emerging within immuno-oncology drug development.
You can listen below, or find The Drug Discovery World Podcast on Spotify, Google Play and Apple Podcasts.
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