Menten AI: A Generative AI Platform for Design And Optimization of Cyclic Peptides
Hans Melo
CEO, Menten AI, Inc.
Up to 80% of drug targets remain beyond the reach of small molecules and biologics. Peptide macrocycles have long been considered a promising modality due to their Goldilocks size potentially able to surpass many limitations of small molecules and biologics. However, their promise has been hindered by long-standing challenges including short half-life and poor membrane permeability. Menten AI is developing a proprietary AI platform to help overcome these challenges. The platform's focus is designing cyclic peptides fully de novo with desired properties including high affinity, stability, and membrane-permeability. Using our platform, we designed cyclic peptides with nanomolar in vitro potencies that demonstrate in vivo efficacy, without the need for experimental optimization. We present the latest development of the platform to perform de novo membrane-permeable cyclic peptide design and optimization.