TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--RevolKa Ltd., a venture-backed biotech company providing a game-changing protein engineering technology platform (Shiro Kataoka, CEO) is pleased to announce the successful completion of the collaborative drug discovery project with Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. (Hiroshi Nomura, President and CEO) for rare diseases within the contractually agreed time frame. RevolKa designed and identified lead candidates by using its proprietary technology platform called aiProtein®: a robust directed protein evolution technology integrated with artificial intelligence (AI). These lead candidates remarkably exceeded the criteria set in the project. RevolKa delivered them for Sumitomo Pharma’s further research and development for pharmaceutical drug applications. Based on the result, Sumitomo Pharma and RevolKa agreed to declare the milestone achievement. Sumitomo Pharma will receive a right of first refusal to an exclusive license of the molecules. RevolKa was entitled to milestone payment. Specific financial terms were not disclosed.
About aiProtein® Technology
RevolKa’s proprietary technology, aiProtein® is an AI-assisted directed evolution of proteins. Naturally occurring protein is a linear polymer of 20 amino acids and their derivatives, which folds into a tertial structure through internal complex atomic interactions to show biological function. Proteins have evolved to biologically functional molecules over hundreds of millions of years. The relationship between protein sequence, structure, and function in those highly crafted molecules remains poorly understood to rationally design a protein sequence for a particular function. Our AI engine is trained with sequence-function relationship data to statistically predict sequences for an evolved protein function. Furthermore, aiProtein® can evolve more than two functions simultaneously. This technology is a powerful and cost-effective tool for the creation of novel and highly-optimized proteins for pharmaceutical and industrial uses.
About RevolKa Ltd. (https://www.revolka.com/en/)
RevolKa is a venture-backed biotechnology company founded in April 2021 by academic and industry experts in biotechnology and artificial intelligence. Our mission is to create novel proteins useful for therapeutics and industries by using our own proprietary technology, aiProtein® to contribute to human well-being. The name "RevolKa" is derived from the Latin word for evolution, "evolutio” and the Ainu (an indigenous Japanese people) word for raise, “reska”. RevolKa’s headquarters are located in Tokyo, Japan with laboratories located in Sendai and Tokyo. The company’s investors include Tohoku University Venture Partners and Softbank investment. For more information, visit https://www.revolka.com/en/.
About Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd.
Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. defines its corporate mission as to broadly contribute to society through value creation based on innovative research and development activities for the betterment of healthcare and fuller lives of people worldwide. By directing its efforts into the research and development of new drugs, Sumitomo Pharma aims to provide innovative and valuable pharmaceutical solutions to people not only in Japan but also around the world to realize its corporate mission. For more information, visit https://www.sumitomo-pharma.com.
