Lisata Therapeutics and GATC Health Team Up to Accelerate AI-Driven Drug Development for Opioid Use Disorder and Beyond

Lisata Therapeutics and GATC Health have entered into an expanded strategic alliance aimed at revolutionizing the drug discovery and development process through the integration of AI and expert pharmaceutical knowledge. The partnership leverages GATC’s proprietary Multiomics Advanced Technology® (MAT) platform, which is designed to predict drug safety, efficacy, and side effects with a high degree of certainty, alongside Lisata’s extensive drug development expertise and regulatory acumen. The initial focus of this collaboration is the development of a novel therapeutic for opioid use disorder (OUD), a significant health issue affecting millions globally. GATC’s OUD drug candidate, discovered through the MAT platform, is a non-opioid small molecule designed to restore dopamine balance, reduce rumination, and enhance cognitive functions. Preclinical studies in murine models have shown a significant reduction in fentanyl self-administration, indicating its potential efficacy and making it a prime candidate for further clinical testing. David J. Mazzo, Ph.D., President and CEO of Lisata, expressed enthusiasm about the alliance, highlighting its potential to dramatically shorten the drug discovery process from 5-6 years to just one year. He emphasized the value AI technologies can bring to the pharmaceutical industry, predicting a possible $350 to $400 billion in value by the end of 2025. Mazzo stated, "This strategic alliance could serve as a blueprint for combining advanced AI discovery with deep development expertise, unlocking new therapeutic possibilities and reducing costs." Under the terms of the expanded agreement, GATC will continue to bear the R&D costs for its development assets, while Lisata will oversee the clinical and regulatory aspects, including the advancement of GATC’s OUD therapeutic into human clinical trials, scheduled to begin early in 2026. If successful, Lisata will receive milestone fees and royalties based on net sales, while GATC will receive licensing fees for any assets acquired by Lisata through the MAT system. The MAT platform, developed by GATC, uses advanced AI and multiomics data to simulate systems biology, model disease states, and validate targets. It can analyze 400 trillion data points (2,500 whole exomes) in under eight minutes, showcasing its efficiency without the need for supercomputing technologies. The platform’s accuracy, with a sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 91%, has been validated by the University of California, Irvine. Additionally, it aligns with the FDA’s recent emphasis on New Approach Methodologies, which prioritize human-relevant data over animal-based studies. Jayson Uffens, CTO at GATC Health, underscored the significance of the MAT platform in rapidly identifying promising drug candidates and emphasized the importance of Lisata’s contributions. He noted, "Lisata’s team brings nearly two centuries of cumulative experience in drug development and several dozen product approvals. Their expertise, established infrastructure, and capital efficiency will be crucial in advancing our OUD drug candidate and other MAT-discovered compounds." Industry insiders have hailed the Lisata-GATC partnership as a pioneering move that could set a new standard in AI-driven drug development. The fusion of GATC’s cutting-edge AI technology with Lisata’s robust drug development framework is seen as a powerful combination capable of bringing novel treatments to market more swiftly and effectively. This alliance reflects a broader trend in the pharmaceutical sector where AI is increasingly recognized for its potential to streamline and enhance drug development processes, leading to better patient outcomes and reduced costs. In brief, Lisata Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company known for its innovative approaches to treating advanced solid tumors and other serious diseases. The company’s lead product, certepetide, is a cyclic peptide that activates a novel uptake pathway, enhancing the effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs. Lisata has a history of successful partnerships and is well-positioned to drive the clinical and regulatory advancement of GATC’s OUD therapeutic and other AI-discovered compounds. GATC Health, on the other hand, is a tech-bio leader that has developed the MAT platform, a highly precise and efficient tool for drug discovery and development. Together, these companies aim to accelerate the delivery of effective treatments to patients, potentially reshaping the landscape of pharmaceutical innovation.