Insider Brief
- SciSparc Ltd. announced the launch of a new initiative to advance 3D protein modeling using quantum computing, aiming to transform drug discovery and personalized medicine.
- The program seeks to leverage quantum algorithms to more accurately simulate protein folding and protein-ligand interactions, areas where classical computers face significant limitations.
- SciSparc will establish a dedicated research team, form a wholly owned Israeli subsidiary, and collaborate with quantum computing and structural biology experts to develop intellectual property and drug discovery applications.
- Image: Photo by Hal Gatewood on Unsplash
PRESS RELEASE — SciSparc Ltd. (Nasdaq: SPRC), a specialty clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focusing on the development of therapies to treat disorders of the central nervous system, announced that the board of directors resolved to initiate the launch of an innovative initiative to advance 3D protein modeling using quantum computing technology. This new program aims to transform drug discovery by potentially achieving unprecedented accuracy in predicting protein structures and interactions with their ligands, potentially paving the way for breakthroughs in structural biology and personalized medicine.
Proteins are the building blocks of life and their function often depends on their unique 3D shapes. Knowing a protein’s 3D structure is critical for understanding how it interacts in the body, how to treat a related disease and how to design effective drugs using the highest possible level of accuracy. Traditionally, scientists use computers to predict these 3D structures, but this process is challenging because proteins are dynamic, constantly shifting between different conformations and classical computers often struggle to model these changes accurately.
SciSparc’s new Initiative aims to leverage quantum computing, a cutting-edge technology that uses principles of quantum mechanics to perform calculations far beyond the capabilities of traditional computers. Unlike classical computing methods, quantum computing might simulate the energy dynamics of proteins with greater precision, capturing their complex movements and interactions with their ligands in a much higher accuracy. This initiative focuses on developing quantum-enabled tools to:
- accurately predict how proteins fold into their 3D shapes;
- model how proteins interact with potential drugs (protein-ligand interactions); and
- accelerate the discovery of new drugs by providing highly precise predictions.
SciSparc will form a dedicated research team to integrate quantum computing algorithms into 3D protein modeling with the aim of creating new intellectual property. The Company will collaborate with leading experts in quantum computing and structural biology to build these capabilities. Initial efforts will focus on refining quantum algorithms to simulate protein dynamics and binding interactions, targeting applications in drug discovery for neurological and rare diseases, areas where SciSparc already has expertise. SciSparc expects to incorporate a new wholly owned Israeli subsidiary which will operate the Initiative.
