AI-generated from publicly available materials.The ASAP Discovery Consortium has redefined drug discovery through an innovative open-science model, earning recognition for its efforts to create a collaborative antiviral pipeline.
In a recent presentation at the Bio-IT World Conference & Expo, Nick Lynch, a leader in the project, detailed the consortium's journey of establishing a global network of 20 institutes focused on antiviral development. This initiative, born from the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, aims to produce clinic-ready antiviral candidates while making all generated data publicly accessible in real-time. The consortium builds on the success of the COVID Moonshot, which previously demonstrated the benefits of open data sharing in drug discovery.
ASAP's scope extends beyond a single virus, targeting multiple pathogens, including coronaviruses and flaviviruses, which frequently lead to epidemics. The consortium has amassed significant data, contributing substantially to the Protein Data Bank and yielding a promising preclinical candidate, among other advancements. This approach emphasizes that the data generated during drug discovery is as valuable as the drugs themselves, necessitating robust infrastructure for data sharing and collaboration across various research entities.
While the initiative's commitment to open science presents challenges, particularly regarding intellectual property, it seeks a balance by releasing data quickly during early stages while protecting certain findings for patenting. Ultimately, ASAP aims to serve as a "public library of blueprints," providing a foundation for other labs to accelerate their research and contribute to global health advancements.