The deeptech company DevsHealth, a member of Catalonia.health, and the Foundation for the Research of Neglected Diseases (FNDR), based in India, announce the identification of DHFLV_003B, the first antiviral compound against dengue conceived entirely with AI thanks to the DevsHealth computational platform.
Unlike traditional processes, DHFLV_003B was designed from scratch in silico using DevsHealth OS, an advanced AI platform that generates, simulates and selects potential therapeutic molecules. This computational approach has reduced research time from several years to just a few months, increasing accuracy and resource efficiency.
In this first round of synthesis, nine compounds designed with AI have been produced, and three have demonstrated significant antiviral activity in cell models, with DHFLV·003B being the main candidate. A success rate of 33% is exceptionally high in this initial phase, where success usually does not exceed 10%. The tests, carried out at the FNDR biosafety facilities in Bangalore, have confirmed that DHFLV_003B robustly inhibits dengue virus replication, offering great potential to reduce viral load and disease severity.
From this discovery, DevsHealth and FNDR have started an optimization program to increase the antiviral power of DHFLV_003B and expand its spectrum to other flaviviruses such as Zika and West Nile virus. Both organisations are committed to ensuring that new treatments are affordable and accessible to the most vulnerable populations, especially in low-income and middle-income countries where dengue represents a serious health and economic burden.
Alfons Nonell-Canals, CEO of DevsHealth, affirms: “This breakthrough demonstrates the true potential of computational research to accelerate the development of new drugs and make them accessible to those who need them most”.
DHFLV_003B is now in the advanced optimization and preclinical validation phase. The next steps include efficacy studies in animal models and preparation for future clinical trials. DevsHealth and FNDR want to translate this innovation into a real impact for people, establishing a new standard in the development of global antivirals.
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