FRONTEO Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Masahiro Morimoto, hereinafter referred to as FRONTEO), Tokyo Institute of Technology, Institute of Innovative Research, Cellular Engineering Research Center (Location: Midori-ku, Yokohama) and disease structure We are pleased to inform you that we have started joint research on improving the efficiency of analysis and drug discovery target searches.

　A research group led by Associate Professor Fumi Kano and Specially Appointed Professor Masayuki Murata of the Center is investigating cellular signal transduction based on quantitative changes in proteins within single cells and their qualitative and spatiotemporal (localization) changes. We are developing the "PLOM-CON analysis method" to elucidate the cell state indicated by disease and drug efficacy¹⁾.This analysis method calculates the feature value of each protein based on the amount, quality, and localization information of proteins at the single cell level obtained from big data of fluorescent antibody-stained images of cells, and analyzes their temporal correlation. It visualizes a "covariation network" using strength as an index, and detects protein group information that is responsible for differences and changes in cell state from changes and differences in the network.From this characteristic, drug discovery target search by target protein extraction of drugs whose effect in individuals has been found but the target molecule is unknown, ultra-early characterization of diseased iPS cells and cells differentiated from iPS cells, etc. is expected to be utilized.

　In addition, FRONTEO is developing AI drug discovery applications "Cascade Eye" and "liGALILEO" that can comprehensively and non-biasly analyze the structural network of diseases and the scientific evaluation of compounds based on a huge amount of academic paper information using AI. I'm here.

　In joint research, the network analysis method based on wet (biological experiments using cells etc.) by the center and FRONTEO's dry (AI analysis based on unstructured information such as medical papers) are based. We plan to work on research and development that contributes to the efficiency and speed of drug discovery target searches through the synergy of network analysis AI technology.

1) Tokyo Institute of Technology: Constructing a protein covariation network from cell-stained images Expecting to accelerate drug discovery by developing a new analysis method that vividly captures the "cell state", https://www.titech.ac.jp/news/2021/061334

■ About Cascade Eye　URL:https://lifescience.fronteo.com/aidiscovery/cascade-eye/
"Cascade Eye" uses FRONTEO's natural language analysis AI engine "Concept Encoder" to analyze papers and medical information, and maps molecules and genes related to the disease you want to analyze. ) is an AI system that displays in the shape ofIt visualizes the relationships between molecules and genes, and supports the significant efficiency improvement of the target search process in drug discovery research.Since AI comprehensively searches for a huge amount of information that cannot be read by humans, it is possible to discover new drug discovery targets and the possibility of diverting existing drugs to other diseases without being influenced by researcher bias. It enables drug discovery approaches that were difficult with conventional methods alone, such as discovery and identification of unknown biomarkers.Patent registration number: Patent No. 6915818

■ About FRONTEO　URL:https://www.fronteo.com/
FRONTEO is a data analysis company that uses the in-house developed AI engines KIBIT and Concept Encoder, Looca Cross specialized in natural language processing to extract meaningful and significant information from a large amount of textual data and support companies' business. Since its inception in August 2003, we have been working globally with Japan, the United States, Korea, and Taiwan, mainly in the Legaltech business, such as e-discovery (electronic evidence disclosure) and digital forensic surveys, which support company international lawsuits. Based on AI technology developed in this project, we have expanded our business fields to life science, business intelligence, and economic security since 8, and have used AI to transform textual data into knowledge, thus contributing to the resolution of various companies' issues, including support for drug discovery, support for dementia diagnostics, and support for financial, human resources, and business. Listed on TSE Mothers (currently TSE Growth) on June 2014, 2007. In January 6, the company obtained a license to manufacture and sell Class I medical devices (license number: 26B2021X1), and in September of the same year, the company submitted a notification to sell controlled medical devices (notification number: 13MinatoMiSeikikiDai1). Capital: ¥10350 (as of March 9, 3).

* FRONTEO, Cascade Eye, liGALILEO, KIBIT, conceptencoder, and Looca Cross are registered trademarks of FRONTEO in Japan.