22 January 2020 - - Singapore-headquartered clinical-stage biotechnology company AUM Biosciences and Toronto-based biotechnology company Cyclica have forged a partnership under Project Nexus to apply Cyclica's proprietary drug discovery platform in AUM's diverse R and D programs for the early-stage discovery of novel cancer therapies, the companies said.

While there has been remarkable progress over the past few decades, cancer remains a major concern, with one in every six deaths being related to cancer.

With the complex nature of cancer, researchers are faced with challenges in developing effective and affordable cancer treatments using classical drug discovery approaches, which ultimately results in barriers to affordability and availability of life-saving medicines for patients in need.

In this strategic partnership, AUM will deploy its drug development expertise, including a biomarker-driven approach, and utilise Cyclica's integrated AI-augmented and structure-based platform, Ligand Design and Ligand Express, which together will design advanced lead-like molecules that minimise unwanted off-target effects while providing a holistic understanding of a molecule's activity through integrated systems biology and structural pharmacogenomics.

Cyclica will receive an upfront payment as well as milestone payments upon the completion of specific stages for Project Nexus. AUM will maintain rights for future development and commercialization of drug assets resulting from Project Nexus.

AUM Biosciences is an oncology-focused Asian biotechnology company committed to developing affordable cancer therapies. AUM is dedicated to revolutionize the existing inefficient drug development paradigm by harnessing the power of precision medicine and digitization.

AUM focuses on early stage development of innovative treatment of cancers prevalent in Asia with the potential to address global markets.

Led by a highly-experienced management team with over 100 years of oncology drug development experience combined, AUM is disrupting the drug development paradigm by implementing a holistic approach to developing drugs.

Headquartered in Singapore, AUM is strategically positioned to work, partner and collaborate with leading research institutes, clinicians and pharmaceutical companies globally.

AUM is the recipient of Frost and Sullivan's 2019 Asia-Pacific Biotech Entrepreneurial company of the Year.

AUM current pipeline includes global rights for 2 first-in-class drugs, Mnk Inhibitor (AUM001), and Pan PIM/PI3K/mTOR Inhibitor (AUM302). AUM001 is currently undergoing Phase I and expected to be Phase II ready by mid 2020.

Cyclica is a Toronto, Canada based biotechnology company that is decentralizing the discovery of new medicines with its integrated structure-based and AI-augmented drug discovery platform, Ligand Design and Ligand Express.

Taken together Ligand Design and Ligand Express design advanced lead-like molecules that minimize unwanted off-target effects, while providing a holistic understanding of a molecule's activity through integrated systems biology and structural pharmacogenomics.

Cyclica's differentiated platform opens new opportunities for drug discovery, including multi-targeted and multi-objective drug design, lead optimisation, ADMET-property prediction, target deconvolution, and drug repurposing for a wide range of indications.

With a world--class team with deep roots in industry and a first-in-class integrated drug discovery platform, Cyclica will spark a surge of innovation through a combination of venture creation and partnerships with early-stage and emerging biotech companies.

By doing more with AI, Cyclica will revolutionise a system troubled with attrition and costly failures, accelerate the drug discovery process, and develop medicines with greater precision.