Google.org Accelerator Boosts Phare Bio’s AI-Powered Antibiotic Discovery Platform

Phare Bio Selected to Participate in the Google.org Accelerator: Advancing an Open-Access Antibiotic Discovery Platform CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Phare Bio, a biotechnology social venture leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to combat the global antibiotic resistance crisis, has been chosen to participate in the Google.org Accelerator: Generative AI program. In addition to a portion of the $30 million in funding, Phare Bio will receive six months of specialized, pro bono technical assistance to further develop its AI-driven, open-access drug discovery platform. This platform is designed to empower global researchers and reinvigorate antibiotic innovation amid a critical public health emergency. Phare Bio's platform, developed in collaboration with the Collins Lab at MIT, uses generative AI to design new classes of antibiotics. By integrating advanced machine learning models with biological screening, the platform can quickly identify and refine potential drug candidates, ensuring high precision and lower toxicity. The aim is to address the pressing issue of antibiotic resistance, which could potentially cause nearly 40 million deaths worldwide by 2050. "This support from Google.org ensures that our tools extend beyond the lab to empower researchers, developers, and communities globally," stated Dr. Akhila Kosaraju, CEO and President of Phare Bio. "This investment in open-access infrastructure underscores our shared commitment to science as a global public good." The backing from Google.org complements the substantial support and momentum Phare Bio has already gained from ARPA-H and the Audacious Project. These collaborations are expanding the platform's generative AI capabilities, allowing researchers to design antibiotic candidates tailored to specific clinical needs—a transformative approach in drug discovery. "We were impressed by Phare Bio's vision to reinvent antibiotic discovery through AI and make these tools accessible to the wider scientific community," commented Karla Palmer, Manager of AI & Scientific Progress at Google.org. "Their platform holds the potential to spur a new era of global collaboration and expedite progress against one of the world's most urgent health threats." Phare Bio has set an ambitious goal of developing 15 preclinical antibiotics by 2030, positioning itself as a leader in mission-driven biotech innovation. About Phare Bio Founded in 2020 to tackle the rising challenge of antibiotic resistance, Phare Bio is a social venture that partners with Jim Collins' lab at MIT to develop novel antibiotics using AI. The company is a recipient of the Audacious Project, a joint funding initiative by TED and top nonprofits aimed at supporting innovative solutions to global issues. Phare Bio's approach combines the latest in machine learning with high-quality scientific research to hasten the discovery of much-needed antibiotics. For more information, visit www.pharebio.org or email [email protected].