RMB 237 million: Artificial Intelligence Drug Discovery Platform of ShanghaiTech University Achieves Technology Transfer

Recently, ShanghaiTech University signed two significant technology licensing agreements with PharmNoah Intelligence (Suzhou) Biotech Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as PharmNoah Intelligence), with a total value exceeding 237 million yuan. According to the agreements, the company will obtain the exclusive commercialization rights to an artificial intelligence (AI) drug discovery platform developed by the research team led by Bai Fang from ShanghaiTech's Institute of Immunology and Chemical Biology, as well as the exclusive patent license for a first-class anti-neuroblastoma candidate drug. This marks a major breakthrough in the transformation of achievements in the field of AI-driven drug discovery at the university.

Neuroblastoma, the most common extracranial malignant tumor in children, has shown limited efficacy with traditional treatment methods, creating an urgent need for efficient and safe novel targeted drugs. The Bai Fang team, in deep collaboration with relevant teams, utilized AI-enabled development to create a class of potent small-molecule targeted inhibitors against neuroblastoma and secured related patents. This time, Puno Therapeutics obtained the exclusive license for this series of drug patents through upfront payments and milestone-based payments.

In addition to the aforementioned patent licenses, ShanghaiTech University has also granted Puno Therapeutics exclusive commercialization rights to its AI-driven drug discovery platform, which includes six algorithms and software systems. As is well known, drug discovery is a lengthy, costly, and highly risky endeavor, while the application of AI technology in the biopharmaceutical field can significantly accelerate the process of new drug development. Bai Fang's team has integrated AI technology to develop multiple innovative algorithms, providing reliable computational tools for drug design, efficacy evaluation, and mechanism studies.

In recent years, ShanghaiTech University has built a dual platform for patent operation and early-stage financing of technology transfer. By granting exclusive patent licenses, the university has deeply promoted entrepreneurial financing among its faculty and students, forming a cluster of enterprises commercializing the university’s patented technologies. For instance, Zhenxu (Shanghai) Biotechnology Co., Ltd., founded by Professor Chen Jia based on innovative achievements, signed an exclusive global patent portfolio license agreement with the university worth over 170 million yuan. In addition, two graduate-founded startups incubated by ShanghaiTech University—Yingmo Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and Daiwu Intelligent Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.—have obtained exclusive rights to nine patents from the university.

In the past five years, the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) at ShanghaiTech University has held over 7,000 business meetings related to patents, technology transfer, entrepreneurship, and financing, assisting faculty and students with patent applications, early-stage financing, and licensing conversions. Seventy percent of the university’s total PCT/foreign patents have been successfully licensed for conversion, with cumulative patent licensing contract values exceeding 7 billion yuan.

"Annual Report on the Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievements in China 2023 (Universities and Research Institutes)" shows that in 2022, among 1,524 universities nationwide using three methods of technology transfer—assignment, licensing, and capital investment—ShanghaiTech University ranked in the top ten. The university accounted for 43.3% of the total contract value of the three types of technology transfer in universities under the jurisdiction of Shanghai.

Currently, ShanghaiTech University has achieved gratifying results in the three aspects of "student cultivation, scientific research, and achievement transformation." In the future, the university will continue to explore and improve the model for transforming scientific and technological achievements, actively build service platforms, and promote the implementation of scientific research achievements. (Chen Jingqiu)

(Editor: Liu Shan)