Lantern Pharma Advances AI Platform to Optimize ADC Development for Cancer
In a peer-reviewed study, Lantern Pharma said its AI-driven approach successfully identified 82 promising ADC targets, and 290 target-indication combinations.
Text sign showing Industry News. Business photo text delivering news to the general public or a target public | Image Credit: © Artur - stock.adobe.com
Lantern Pharma, a Dallas, Texas-based artificial intelligence (AI) company focused on cancer therapy development and oncology drug discovery, announced in a press release on Jan. 27, 2025 that it is making advancements in the application of its proprietary AI and machine learning platform, known as RADR, to accelerate and optimize development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) (1).
A peer-reviewed study published in PLoS ONE demonstrated Lantern Pharma’s AI-driven approach by successfully identifying 82 promising ADC targets and 290 target-indication combinations, validating 729 potential payload molecules from a screening of more than 50,000 compounds as well, according to the press release (1,2).
“This breakthrough demonstrates how AI can transform the traditionally costly and time-consuming process of ADC development," said Panna Sharma, CEO and president of Lantern Pharma, in the release. "By simultaneously analyzing multiple data types and integrating mutation profiles with target expression, our team was able to identify optimal therapeutic combinations that have the potential to be more effective and safer for specific patient populations. We believe that our data-driven and machine-learning ready approach could reduce ADC development timelines by 30 to 50% and cut associated costs by up to 60% compared to traditional methods of ADC development."
In the press release, Lantern Pharma said the global ADC market is projected to reach $30.4 billion by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate of 41.7%, and that several approved ADCs now have annual sales exceeding $1 billion (1).
"The implications of this research extend far beyond just expanding the repertoire of potential ADC targets," Kishor Bhatia, PhD, Lantern Pharma chief scientific officer, said in the release. "By leveraging our RADR platform's advanced AI capabilities, we've created a systematic approach that could dramatically reduce both the time and cost of ADC development while increasing the probability of clinical success. Our platform is particularly well-suited for partnership opportunities with pharmaceutical companies looking to accelerate their ADC programs or expand their pipeline with novel targets."
PharmTech Group’s Behind the Headlines series, in January 2025, and an interview with Verana Health CEO Sujay Jadhav, in December 2024, both mentioned AI as a vessel to make the healthcare system at large more effective, particularly in the areas of drug discovery and development (3,4).
“Predictive analytics and AI ... can help predict disease progression and assist with early detection to support patient recruitment and retention,” Jadhav said in his interview (4). “AI and these technologies, they can identify trends for data, [and lead to] informed decisions across the drug lifecycle.”
References
1. Lantern Pharma. Lantern Pharma Unveils Innovative AI-Powered Module to Improve the Precision, Cost and Timelines of Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) Development for Cancer. Press Release. Jan. 27, 2025.
2. Kathad, U.; Biyani, N.; Peru y Colón De Portugal, R. L.; et al. Expanding the Repertoire of Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) Targets with Improved Tumor Selectivity and Range of Potent Payloads Through In-Silico Analysis. PLoS ONE 2024, 19 (8). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308604
3. Spivey, C. Behind the Headlines: 2025 Wish List. BioPharmInternational.com, Jan. 16, 2025.
4. Haigney, S. Industry Outlook for 2025—Real-World Data. BioPharmInternational.com, Dec. 26, 2024.
