NEWROAD

NEWROAD – Open Platform for European Networking and Repurposing of Oncological Assets and Drugs

Despite advances in technology, the productivity of the pharmaceutical industry, particularly the efficacy of cancer drugs, appears to be faltering due to unsustainable long-term costs and timeframes. In response, NEWROAD seeks to streamline this process by developing an EU-wide capability for Systematic Drug Repurposing (SDR), particularly for cancer treatment.

NEWROAD will create an open, collaborative platform to repurpose drugs in oncology. The platform will be accessible via high-performance computers and the cloud, drawing upon data provided by healthcare institutions and pharmaceutical companies.

Objectives
NEWROAD's primary aims are to:

1. develop novel therapies based on drug repurposing;
2. facilitate sharing of clinical data among European Union entities;
3. create an open, collaborative platform for Systematic Drug Repurposing.

Approach
NEWROAD utilises an Augmented Intelligence (AuI)-based platform for collaborative development of therapies via drug repurposing. Additionally, the platform also acts as a protocol for sharing clinical data uploaded by hospitals, universities, and research organisations. This data sharing aspect not only enhances the Artificial Intelligence’s capabilities but also marks the most innovative aspect of the project.

The final component of the platform offers an integrated in silico function that allows users to analyse and repurpose existing drugs or proprietary compounds. This unique protocol evaluates all data related to the disease of interest and available pharmacopoeia, conducting in silico testing on a rationally selected panel of oncological targets.