SentrySciences LLC acquired the exclusive license to commercialize an artificial intelligence software that aids in pharmaceutical development. The Longmont company believes that this will not only benefit developers of protein-based medicines, but also guide business growth.
SentrySciences announced its launch of ParticleSentry(AI), a patent from researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder and Ursa Analytics, on May 27. It’s meant to aid in drug efficacy and patient safety when it comes to developing protein-based drugs or therapeutic protein.
SentrySciences CEO Glenn Brandon said the AI identifies aggregates in samples, or when proteins bind together and form “clumps.” This is expected, but some aggregates can be harmful.
“Protein drugs will always have aggregates. The problem with aggregation is, not only does it affect the efficacy of the drug, so it may make the drug less useful to the patient,” Brandon said. “It may permanently disable the drug’s healing properties, but it can also act as a trigger in the patient for an anaphylactic reaction where it can cause anything from severe anaphylaxis up through death.”
ParticleSentry(AI) compares samples to a “fingerprint,” a 2D map of ideal characteristics for the drug. The software then reads different samples and tells the user whether or not it falls within the given parameters or if it’s an outlier. Sandy Hutchison, Global Director of AI Software Products for SentrySciences, said this is useful as the software detects aggregates more accurately than the human eye.
“To the eye, we can't see what's good, what's bad. What potentially could be helpful or harmful,” she said.
For now, SentrySciences works directly with clients to create “fingerprints,” but in the future customers with the right skill set can make their own, Hutchison said. ParticleSentry(AI) is offered as a service through SentrySciences. In July, the company will open it up for software demonstrations. ParticleSentry(AI) will be ready for customer purchase in Q4 2021.
The service can support every step of drug creation from discovery and development and through clinical trials and manufacturing, Hutchison said.
SentrySciences rebranded itself from PMT(USA) LLC, known for providing particle detection hardware and software, in early May. It hasn’t discontinued its previous services but ParticleSentry(AI) will be the driving force from here on out.
“This will be the key revenue driver,” Brandon said. “But the synergy between this and the other business will help that other business thrive. So this, the software part of our business, will now drive everything else we do into the customer space.”
Brandon is the majority shareholder, but said that shares will be disbursed to key employees — SentryScience is a staff of nine — and eventually be an employee-owned firm. The company is putting together a board of advisors and seeking investors, Brandon said.
