Evogene Ltd has partnered with Queensland University of Technology to develop AI-designed small molecules targeting chemotherapy resistance in non-small cell lung cancer.

The collaboration brings together Evogene’s ChemPass AI platform and research led by Dr Mark Adams at QUT to identify and inhibit a newly characterised cellular detoxification pathway linked to Cisplatin resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The work will focus initially on chemotherapy- and targeted therapy-resistant NSCLC, with potential relevance to other cancers.

Resistance to standard-of-care therapies remains a major barrier in lung cancer treatment. Cisplatin, a backbone chemotherapy, is associated with intrinsic resistance in 60–70% of treated patients, while 30–40% of patients receiving targeted therapies fail to respond upfront. Similar patterns of intrinsic and acquired resistance are reported in immunotherapy settings. The partners aim to address these gaps by targeting a pathway identified in preclinical research as driving resistance mechanisms.

According to the companies, the programme will pinpoint mechanisms within Cisplatin-induced detoxification processes that can be therapeutically disrupted. Evogene will apply its AI-driven generative chemistry engine to design and optimise small-molecule inhibitors, while QUT will provide biological validation and mechanistic insight. The approach includes iterative compound refinement using integrated biological data to optimise multiple drug parameters.

Dr Mark Adams from Queensland University of Technology said: “Partnering with Evogene is an exciting opportunity not only from a cell and molecular biology perspective, but also for its translational potential. Leveraging Evogene’s AI-driven technology allows us to accelerate a path from research to real world outcomes. By working together, I look forward to seeing our collective innovation one day make a meaningful difference for people living with cancer.”

Dr Gabi Tarcic, chief development officer at Evogene, said: “By combining Dr. Adams’ deep biological insight into resistance pathways with our advanced AI-driven drug design capabilities, we hope to offer a new lifeline to patients who currently face limited treatment options. Partnering with Dr. Adams’ research team at QUT marks an important step in extending our generative AI technology into oncology, particularly in tackling one of the most persistent challenges in cancer – chemotherapy resistance.”

The announcement centres on early-stage discovery research rather than clinical development, with no financial terms disclosed. While positioned as a strategic scientific collaboration, the programme remains at the preclinical stage and will require further validation before progression into formal drug development pipelines.

For Evogene, the partnership signals further expansion of its AI-driven small molecule platform into oncology. For QUT, it provides translational support to move laboratory findings on resistance biology towards potential therapeutic candidates.