Ginkgo Bioworks and Partners Debut ADME-One™ for Enhanced Drug Discovery Efficiency

Launch of ADME-One™: A Game Changer in Drug Discovery

In a significant advancement for the pharmaceutical industry, Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) has officially unveiled ADME-One™, a pioneering integrated ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) platform, co-developed with allies Tangible Scientific and Inductive Bio. This state-of-the-art platform marries high-throughput testing with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to redefine pharmacokinetic (PK) projections early in the drug discovery process.

Traditionally, the profiling of drugs from their lead compounds involved data generation methods that were both painstaking and time-consuming. This meant that testing for ADME properties often occurred too late in the development cycle, sometimes resulting in costly revisions when unexpected liabilities arose. With ADME-One™, researchers can now start evaluating entire series of compounds much earlier—specifically during hit identification—resulting in better-informed decisions from the outset. This not only reduces the number of wasted synthesis cycles but also streamlines the identification of compounds likely to succeed in clinical settings.

A Unified Approach to Drug Discovery

ADME-One integrates the expertise of three industry leaders into one seamless workflow:

1. Ginkgo Datapoints handles the automated data generation, executing all essential Tier 1 assays—microsomal stability, cell permeability, kinetic solubility, CYP inhibition, and plasma protein binding. This setup guarantees consistent production of AI-ready data, removing the variability often caused by manual handling.

2. Inductive Bio employs its innovative Compass platform to provide actionable human PK projections, transforming individual ADME data points into a cohesive multi-parameter optimization endpoint. This method enables a data-centric approach to compound prioritization.

3. Tangible Scientific oversees compound management, addressing logistics—from intake and plating to real-time tracking. This integration mitigates the logistical challenges that come with outsourcing ADME investigations.

A confluence of such leading capabilities empowers drug discovery teams with the tools they need to enhance efficiency and effectiveness significantly.

Revolutionizing Drug Discovery Timelines

John Androsavich, General Manager at Ginkgo Datapoints, articulated the transformative essence of ADME-One. He emphasized that the platform not only decreases costs associated with ADME panels but also revamps their application within the drug discovery lifecycle. Chemists now have the possibility to efficiently assess a variety of compounds starting from the hit identification phase, which is crucial for minimizing risks at early project stages. The integration of automation, AI capabilities, and logistics into a single workflow reflects a commitment to meeting the demands of modern drug discovery.

Adham Chebbani, Co-founder of Tangible Scientific, pointed out the current challenges within drug discovery, where operational inefficiencies often outpace the capabilities of innovative AI technologies. ADME-One endeavors to bridge the gap, allowing seamless transitions from design to actionable data, thereby accelerating the validation of candidates identified through AI strategies.

Much of the excitement surrounding ADME-One stems from Inductive Bio's ability to rank drug candidates based on predicted human dosages, utilizing proven AI models that have won competitive benchmarks. By facilitating a rapid feedback loop between virtual and wet lab environments, the platform ensures that the most promising compounds are highlighted from the beginning.

Cost-Effective Innovation in Drug Development

The partnership's approach is particularly salient given the current climate, with many U.S. and European drug developers seeking to bring preclinical operations back onshore. ADME-One facilitates a fully domestic workflow, providing significant cost advantages over traditional offshore operations. As a result, drug development teams can receive results in a matter of days rather than the weeks typically associated with such testing.

In this era of increasing regulatory complexities and demands for data sovereignty, ADME-One not only fulfills current industry needs but also lays a foundation for future advancements.

To further bolster the capabilities behind ADME-One, Ginkgo has recently appointed Jonathan Grob as Vice President of Small Molecules. With extensive experience in medicinal chemistry and tech-driven approaches, Grob's addition to the leadership team signifies Ginkgo's dedication to establishing a premier AI-enhanced drug discovery workforce.

Engaging with ADME-One

For teams engaged in drug discovery who wish to leverage the advantages of this new platform, early access and volume engagements are available through direct contact with Ginkgo Datapoints, Tangible Scientific, or Inductive Bio. Furthermore, the companies are poised to present additional insights and data at the New England Drug Metabolism Discussion Group (NEDMDG) meeting in Boston.

Ginkgo Bioworks has consistently pushed the boundaries by harnessing biology's engineering potential, making processes more accessible to researchers. The launch of ADME-One™ represents yet another leap in their ongoing quest to innovate in the biopharmaceutical landscape.