August 26, 2024
Revorf Co., Ltd.
Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation

Revorf Co., Ltd. (Revorf) and Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation (Toshiba) have entered into a strategic partnership agreement under which they will provide IT-driven drug discovery solutions targeting undruggable proteins in the field of allosteric drug discovery¹. Toshiba has also made an equity investment in Revorf.

The partnership combines Revorf's advanced computational processing technology for biological information, and the data analysis expertise of its drug discovery team with Toshiba’s quantum-inspired optimization solution, SQBM+. It will apply IT-driven drug discovery using quantum-inspired technology² to develop solutions that can be offered to pharmaceutical companies.

In June 2022, Revorf and Toshiba announced that they had developed a technology using SQBM+ to predict protein allosteric regulation, the mechanism that realizes functional diversity of proteins through specific regulation of their three-dimensional structure and activities, with high accuracy, and verified its applicability to computational drug discovery³. Following further joint research to improve prediction accuracy and in vitro⁴ experimental validation, the practicality of the technology has been established, and market expectations for the technology have been confirmed, leading to the current strategic partnership agreement and the initiation of collaboration and cooperation in the field of allosteric drug discovery.

Revorf plans to apply the allosteric regulation prediction technology made possible by SQBM+ to drug discovery support and joint research for pharmaceutical companies. Toshiba will strategically provide technologies that further streamline the drug discovery process using SQBM+ and enhance the value of Revorf's business.

Revorf and Toshiba have together developed a quantum computing algorithm that uses SQBM+ to predict allosteric regulation. Through this partnership, they will accelerate the development of new IT-driven drug discovery solutions and contribute to solving social problems in the field of drug discovery. 

Shinichi Sueta, CEO of Revorf Co., Ltd. commented as follows:
“We aim to continuously contribute to the well-being of society and ensure that good health remains a standard for all, through our diagnostic services, drug discovery initiatives, and drug development support programs integrating cutting-edge data analytics with proprietary biotechnology. This technology was developed through extensive discussions and multi-stage technological development involving experts from Toshiba Digital Solutions and Revorf, among others from various fields. By making undruggable targets druggable through this technology, we are dedicated to resolving the depletion of drug discovery candidates, which is an issue in drug discovery.”

Hiroshi Tsukino, Director, Vice President of Toshiba Digital Solutions commented as follows:
“We have been exploring use cases and establishing partnerships to bring quantum-inspired optimization technology to society. We are pleased to announce our strategic partnership with Revorf. By combining Revorf's advanced allosteric drug discovery technology with our quantum-inspired optimization solution SQBM+, we aim to revolutionize the drug discovery process. We are confident that this collaboration will enable faster and more effective development of new drugs, creating new value in the field of drug discovery.”

(From left) Keiichi Kimura, COO of Revorf Co., Ltd, Shinichi Sueta, CEO of Revorf Co., Ltd., Hiroshi Tsukino, Director and Vice President of Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation, and Takahisa Yazaki, General Manager, Data Business Promotion Dept., ICT Solutions Div., Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation

About SQBM+^™
SQBM+ is a solution that implements a simulated branching algorithm. It was invented during quantum computer research at Toshiba Corporation's Research and Development Center that aimed to quickly solve combinatorial optimization problems. SQBM+ runs on standard computers and finds high-precision, approximate solutions (high-quality solutions) to complex, large-scale problems in a short time. It can also verify the effectiveness in energy management and material development. The commercial launch of SQBM+ allowed Toshiba Group and its partners to verify the practicality of SQBM+ and the effectiveness of applying quasi-quantum computing to high-speed, high-frequency stock trading⁵, to demonstrate logistics management that optimizes picking routes and shelf layouts in a factory warehouse, and in fields including energy management, and materials development.

About Allosteric Drug Discovery
Drug discovery that targets the allosteric regulation of proteins. Unlike conventional drug discovery that targets active sites, allosteric drug discovery targets allosteric sites where allosteric regulators bind. This approach offers several advantages, inclusing the potential for expanding druggable targets and developing drugs with high specificity and reduced side effects. However, discovering allosteric sites in proteins requires extensive and time consuming in vitro experiments. Therefore, there are high expectations for IT-driven drug discovery, which aims to design and evaluate therapeutic drugs through computer simulations as an alternative to these labor-intensive methods.

About Revorf
Revorf is dedicated to advancing healthcare by integrating cutting-edge data analytics with proprietary biotechnology, with a primary focus on infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders. Through our diagnostic services, drug discovery initiatives and drug development support programs, we strive to continuously contribute to the well-being of society and ensure that good health remains a standard for all.
https://www.revorf.jp/　（Website in Japanese only）

About Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation
Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation is developing businesses globally which utilize digital and quantum technologies, such as IoT and artificial intelligence (AI), as the Toshiba Group company which handles digital solutions. By maximizing the power of various data generated in the wide range of business areas of the Toshiba Group and creating platforms, we will create a series of valuable services and contribute to achieving carbon neutrality and a circular economy.

Toshiba Digital Solutions will continue to create new value, together with our customers and partners, based on the Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group: “Committed to People, Committed to the Future.”
https://www.global.toshiba/ww/company/digitalsolution.html

•  ”SQBM+” is a registered trademark or trademark of Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation in Japan and other countries.
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