SOM Biotech
SOM Innovation Biotech, S.A., is a private pharmaceutical company focused on the accelerated discovery and development of therapies for orphan diseases through a proprietary artificial intelligence-based drug discovery technology and developing strategic partnerships with major research centers and pharmaceutical companies. The company was founded in 2009 in Barcelona, Spain.
The company successfully applies SOMAI PRO technology to identify effective drugs for any therapeutic area of interest in identifying new drug targets, as well as to identify new indications for drugs. The main strength of AI technology is that it identifies the mechanisms of action of molecules and determines their non-structural analogues with similar biological activity. This is a key differentiating factor compared to most other AI-based approaches, which use methods based on data mining, structural similarity, or target structure. The technology reduces drug development costs and time, providing a high level of success and reliable patent protection.
Products
SOM Biotech has an extensive portfolio of products that is focused mainly on neurology and also in other therapeutic areas.In 2013, the company licensed its first asset, SOM0777, indicated for glioblastoma to Argon Pharma, a pharmaceutical company based in Barcelona, Spain.
In 2014, SOM Biotech initiated a phase IIa proof of concept study in humans, regarding its compound SOM0226 for treatment of TTR Amyloidosis, with Vall d´Hebron Hospital in Barcelona. During the end of 2013, the United States of America Food and Drug Administration granted orphan drug designation to SOM0226. After successful completion of the clinical development phase IIa, SOM has granted a worldwide exclusive license to . Inc., a New York-based pharmaceutical company.
In 2017, SOM Biotech entered into an agreement with Nippon Chemiphar to collaborate for the SOM3355 program for the treatment of chorea in Huntington's disease. From 2018 to 2019, SOM Biotech successfully performed a clinical proof-of-concept phase IIa study assessing SOM3355 efficacy and safety in reducing chorea in Huntington’s disease.
SOM Biotech's clinical pipeline includes programs for TTR Amyloidosis, chorea in Huntington's disease, Phenylketonuria, COVID-19. The preclinical pipeline includes programs for Niemann Pick Type C, Parkinson's, Tay-Sachs disease. The early development pipeline of the company consists of 20 orphan disease programs.