AI IN MEDICINE: PROTEINS

in which a protein is going to fold, they can predict its 3D structure, and that will give them insight into the functions of that protein,” Lee said. “This can be used in areas such as drug design, where a scientist could design a protein that would fit into a particular molecule or pathway to have a specific e ect.”

Thanks to Meta’s technology, scientists will be able to predict protein folding and address the root causes of the world’s most elusive and undertreated diseases.

This is where Mark Zuckerberg and his team at Meta (formerly known as Facebook) come in. They use AI technology to predict the folding of proteins more quickly than in the past. “Meta’s AI research team just created a model that predicts protein folding 60x faster than state of the art,” Zuckerberg wrote to Meta employees in a post. “This will unlock new ways to treat diseases and accelerate drug recovery.”

Thanks to Meta’s technology, scientists will be able to predict protein folding and address the root causes of the world’s most elusive and undertreated diseases.

Constrained peptide medication

Constrained peptide medication, according to a Ted Talk by Christopher Bahl, co-founder and Chief Security O cer of AI Proteins, is going to revolutionize the medical field. These peptides are typically viewed as superior to average peptides for drug development, but they are not a new discovery: The human body naturally produces them to fight o some illnesses, and they are what make snake venom poisonous. But how can people use constrained peptides further to their advantage? That is where the idea for constrained peptide medication comes in.

Currently, there are two primary medications on the market: regular medication and biologics. Regular medication includes pills taken orally or via ointment—think Advil or most allergy medications. These medications are very durable, though not as potent as biologics. Biologic medications are incredibly e ective—however, their size poses a problem. Biologics are so large that stomach acids would dissolve them on contact. This means that biologic medication must be taken, somewhat painfully, by injection.

Constrained peptide medication combines the benefits from both of these types of medication. The medication is small and potent, seeking to combine the e ectiveness of biologics and the convenience of regular medication.

Scientists have been investigating this field for some time. However, constrained peptide medications currently on the market only alter preexisting constrained peptides. What sets Bahl’s idea apart is that he plans not to alter naturally preexisting constrained peptides, but to create new ones in a lab using AI.

What sets Bahl’s idea apart is that he plans not to alter naturally preexisting constrained peptides, but to create new ones in a lab using AI.

Bahl and his team at AI Proteins use an AI program to build never-before-seen protein structures that are then created by researchers in labs. After making a model of the proteins on a computer, researchers develop them and form them into potent, durable pills. This process enables constrained peptide medications to target specific illnesses based on prior information about them. The intelligence program essentially analyzes existing information and uses it to produce an entirely new protein.

Most constrained peptide medications are still in the animal-testing stage. However, as more of these medications are produced and advancements are made in the field, it is likely that these medications will revolutionize medicine as people know it.

—Written by Izzy Grimmer, a Writer.