A drug generated by artificial intelligence for patients with lung disease has entered Phase II clinical trials.

Developed by biotech company Insilico Medicine, the drug is hoped to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a condition where the lungs become scarred and breathing becomes increasingly difficult. There is currently no treatment that can stop or reverse scarring on the lungs caused by this condition.

The drug – called INS018_055 – will be the first of its kind to enter a Phase II randomised trials to evaluate candidates in wider populations. Insilico hopes to recruit 60 patients with IPF, at 40 sites in the US and China.

“It is the first fully generative AI drug to reach human clinical trials, and specifically Phase II trials with patients,” said Alex Zhavoronkov, founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine.

“The achievement of the first dose for INS018_055 in the Phase 2 clinical trial is not only an important step for Insilico, but also a milestone for AI-driven drug discovery and development. Together, we are expecting more achievements powered by AI for global unmet medical needs”, said Feng Ren, co-chief executive and chief scientific officer of Insilico Medicine.

Elsewhere in medicine AI technology has demonstrated practical application and systems improvement such as halving the time for stroke victims to access treatment in the UK’s NHS.

Further reading:

Target X Inhibitor: Treating Fibrotic diseases of the Lung and Kidney (Phase II)