Amply Discovery Partners with Keeps Biomed to Enhance Oncology Efforts

Amply Discovery, an AI-driven drug discovery company originating from Belfast, has secured a strategic investment from South Korean biopharmaceutical firm Keeps Biomed. This partnership aims to explore future collaboration opportunities specifically in the field of oncology. Since its inception in 2021 as a spin-off from Queen’s University Belfast, Amply has focused on utilizing artificial intelligence to enhance drug discovery processes.

The announcement comes alongside the appointment of Dr. Oliver Rausch as the new chief scientific officer. Dr. Rausch previously worked at Storm Therapeutics and brings substantial expertise in RNA biology and oncology drug discovery. His role will be crucial in accelerating target validation and progressing the company’s portfolio, preparing it for future partnerships.

Amply Discovery employs an innovative platform that utilizes AI to analyze multi-omic datasets, allowing the identification of disease-relevant signals, including those found in non-coding genomic regions. The findings are validated through iterative laboratory testing, which enables the rapid prioritization of high-quality therapeutic programs intended for partnership opportunities.

Dr. Ben Thomas, the chief executive of Amply, expressed his enthusiasm about the investment, stating, “This strategic investment is an important endorsement of Amply’s platform and our approach to oncology. We’re building a company designed for partnering—generating high-quality, data-driven programs and taking them to clear inflection points.” He also highlighted the significance of bringing Dr. Rausch on board to enhance the company’s oncology execution and readiness for partnerships.

In response, Ha Young Kim, chief executive of Keeps Biopharma, emphasized the potential in leveraging advanced AI-enabled discovery methods to create a differentiated oncology pipeline. “Amply’s platform and team align strongly with our strategic direction, and we look forward to developing collaboration opportunities in oncology,” he stated.

Amply operates a portfolio model that prioritizes the generation of multiple discovery programs targeting therapeutic areas with high unmet medical needs. The focus is on creating licensable assets and establishing partnership opportunities at defined milestones that can enhance value creation.

This investment marks a significant step for Amply Discovery as it continues to innovate in the field of drug discovery, particularly in oncology, where the need for effective therapies remains critical. The collaboration with Keeps Biomed is expected to bolster Amply’s capabilities and position within the competitive biopharmaceutical landscape.