Kuano

Kuano is a drug discovery company established in 2020 that leverages quantum mechanics and artificial intelligence (AI) to engineer novel medicines. The company was co-founded by CEO Dr. Vid Stojevic, an expert in quantum physics and AI; CTO Dr. David Wright, a specialist in molecular modeling and simulation; Dr. Parminder Ruprah, an experienced 'drug hunter'; and Dr. Jarryl D'Oyley, a computational medicinal chemist. The founding team's expertise reflects the company's interdisciplinary approach, with Dr. Stojevic bringing over 15 years of postdoctoral experience in quantum physics and machine learning, and Dr. Wright contributing over eight years of research in modeling complex biological systems.

Kuano's core business revolves around its proprietary platform that addresses limitations in traditional drug discovery, particularly in targeting enzymes. Enzymes are often implicated in human diseases, but designing drugs to target them is challenging because many appear similar in their resting state, leading to potential side effects and reduced efficacy. Kuano's platform creates a 'quantum lens,' enabling scientists to model enzymes in their dynamic, transitional states. This detailed simulation reveals unique quantum profiles for each enzyme, which are then used with AI tools to predict and design optimal inhibitor structures. This methodology aims to produce drug candidates that are more potent, selective, and have fewer side effects, potentially unlocking previously 'undruggable' enzyme targets. The platform has already been validated in several disease areas, including bowel cancer, lymphoma, and Alzheimer's disease.

The company's business model encompasses both in-house drug discovery programs and strategic collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotech companies. These partnerships focus on creating new inhibitors for validated or intractable enzyme targets. Kuano generates revenue through these collaborations and by advancing its own pipeline of therapeutics. Since its inception, the company has secured approximately £2.8 million in total funding through multiple seed rounds, with notable investors including Mercia Ventures, ACF Investors, Ascension Ventures, and o2h Ventures. This capital is being used to further validate the platform, strengthen the management team, and scale operations for growth.

Keywords: drug discovery, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, enzyme inhibitors, molecular modeling, quantum mechanics, computational chemistry, pharmaceutical biotechnology, drug design, transition state analysis, quantum simulation, precision medicine, undruggable targets, medicinal chemistry, AI in drug discovery, quantum-led drug design, structure-based drug discovery, novel therapeutics, selective inhibitors, computational drug design