SandboxAQ and iOncologi Partner to Accelerate Glioblastoma Treatment

SandboxAQ and iOncologi have partnered to jointly develop and commercialize a novel mRNA vaccine for glioblastoma, a common and aggressive brain tumour with limited treatment options, aiming to deliver a lead therapeutic candidate into clinical trials within 18 months. The collaboration combines SandboxAQ’s AI-powered drug discovery platform, which the company states can design molecules 100 times faster and at a lower cost than virtual screening, with iOncologi’s expertise in immunotherapy design and clinical execution. This effort builds on SandboxAQ’s existing collaboration with Stand Up To Cancer, leveraging its Large Quantitative Models to accelerate cancer treatment development.

Collaboration Targets Glioblastoma

SandboxAQ and iOncologi have established a strategic collaboration to jointly develop, validate, and commercialise a novel high-fidelity mRNA vaccine specifically targeting glioblastoma, a particularly aggressive form of brain cancer. This collaborative effort combines SandboxAQ’s software and biologics technology for drug candidate identification and optimisation with iOncologi’s expertise in immunotherapy design and clinical execution. The intention is to deliver a lead therapeutic candidate into clinical trials within an 18-month timeframe.

iOncologi specialises in precision immunotherapies designed to reprogram and redirect the immune system to target tumours previously considered untreatable, including those shielded by the blood-brain barrier or exhibiting immune tolerance. The company is integrating immune intelligence, mRNA engineering, and drug delivery platforms into adaptable, patient-specific treatment models. This approach is combined with SandboxAQ’s ability to model and rapidly optimise molecules across vast chemical and biological spaces, with the aim of advancing a transformative therapeutic for glioblastoma and potentially other treatment-resistant solid tumours.

SandboxAQ’s AQBioSim platform employs Large Quantitative Models (LQMs) grounded in physics and chemistry to rapidly identify potential drug candidates, simulate molecular behaviour, and design new molecules. The company’s generative chemistry AI model has demonstrated the ability to design molecules with superior binding characteristics compared to technologies like large-scale virtual screening, achieving this 100 times faster and at a lower cost. This technology has previously been applied to diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and the company believes adapting it to oncology can deliver significant impact.

In addition to the iOncologi collaboration, SandboxAQ is also working with Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) to support SU2C-funded cancer research projects. This initiative leverages LQMs to accelerate the development of new treatments, including efforts to detect hard-to-diagnose cancers and leverage predictive modelling to optimise treatment response and monitor potential recurrence. SandboxAQ is a business-to-business company delivering solutions at the intersection of AI and quantum techniques, and is funded by investors including funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., and others.

Advancing AI-Driven Drug Discovery

Glioblastoma currently affects around 300,000 new patients globally each year, resulting in over 200,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. Patients diagnosed with glioblastoma typically survive for less than two years. The collaboration between SandboxAQ and iOncologi aims to address this challenging condition by pairing comprehensive oncology datasets with advanced quantitative AI tools and simulation techniques to accelerate glioblastoma drug discovery.

SandboxAQ’s AQBioSim platform uses Large Quantitative Models (LQMs) grounded in physics and chemistry to rapidly identify potential drug candidates, simulate molecular behaviour, and design new molecules. The company’s generative chemistry AI model has demonstrated the ability to design molecules with superior binding characteristics compared to technologies like large-scale virtual screening, achieving this 100 times faster and at a lower cost. Nadia Harhen, General Manager of AI Simulation and head of the AQBioSim division at SandboxAQ, noted the technology’s proven ability to rapidly identify and design molecules addressing challenging diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and believes adapting this technology to oncology can deliver significant impact.

SandboxAQ is a business-to-business company delivering solutions at the intersection of AI and quantum techniques. The company’s Large Quantitative Models (LQMs) deliver critical advances in life sciences, financial services, navigation, and other sectors. Emerging from Alphabet Inc., SandboxAQ is an independent, growth-backed company funded by investors including funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., Alger, IQT, US Innovative Technology Fund, S32, Paladin Capital, BNP Paribas, Eric Schmidt, Breyer Capital, Ray Dalio, Marc Benioff, Thomas Tull, Yann LeCun, and others.

iOncologi, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative immunotherapies for the treatment of solid tumours. The company focuses on harnessing the power of the immune system to create next-generation oncology treatments that improve patient outcomes.