USC partners with Autobahn Labs to accelerate drug discovery

The University of Southern California (USC) has entered into a pioneering partnership with Autobahn Labs, an accelerator focused on early-stage drug discovery. This collaboration aims to turn promising academic research into innovative therapies that address critical and urgent medical needs. By combining USC’s extensive scientific expertise with Autobahn Labs’ proven track record in drug development, the partnership seeks to rapidly translate laboratory discoveries into real-world treatments for diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular conditions.

Transform research into therapeutics

USC’s commitment to advancing scientific innovation is central to this collaboration. Dr Erin Overstreet, executive director of the USC Stevens Centre for Innovation, emphasised the significance of this partnership in driving the university’s mission to bring academic breakthroughs to market. “Our collaboration with Autobahn Labs is a pivotal moment for our institution’s mission to bring academic innovations in drug discovery to market,” she explained. The USC Stevens Centre for Innovation manages a broad portfolio of intellectual property, including numerous ground-breaking discoveries in the life sciences.

Autobahn Labs, founded in 2019, specialises in accelerating the development of early-stage drug discovery projects by providing intellectual and financial capital. The company partners with academic institutions to move scientific discoveries from hypothesis to drug candidates. “We are looking forward to working with USC, our newest academic collaborator, to expand our reach as we aim to identify and translate the best of academic biotech,” said Dr Brendan M. O’Leary, CEO of Autobahn Labs. As part of the collaboration, Autobahn Labs will invest up to £5 million in each selected project to help drive their progress toward clinical trials and commercialisation.

A strategic approach to drug development

This partnership will be supported by MESH Strategic Partnerships at USC’s Keck School of Medicine, which will serve as the central liaison between researchers and industry partners. MESH helps build connections between academia and the pharmaceutical industry, ensuring that early-stage projects receive the necessary support to succeed.

In addition, the collaboration will benefit from the resources at the Rosalie and Harold Rae Brown Centre for Cancer Drug Development at USC Norris. This centre focuses on preparing promising cancer therapies to meet key development milestones and positioning them for future engagement with partners like Autobahn Labs.

Dr Vasiliki Anest, Chief Innovation Officer at the Keck School of Medicine and head of MESH, views this collaboration as a critical step in advancing research across various disease areas. “Our strategic alignment with Autobahn is a significant step forward in advancing research, not only in oncology but across various disease areas, ” said Dr Anest. “This collaboration ensures that groundbreaking research at USC has a clear and efficient path from the lab to the clinic, bringing life-changing therapies to patients who are waiting for innovative solutions.”

Fuelling the future of drug discovery

Key partners of Autobahn Labs, including Samsara BioCapital and Charles River Laboratories, will play a critical role in advancing the collaboration. Samsara BioCapital, a leading life sciences investment firm, will provide essential funding and expertise. Meanwhile, Charles River Laboratories will offer a range of services that help accelerate research, ensuring that projects are equipped with the necessary infrastructure to transition from the research phase to clinical trials.

Together, USC and Autobahn Labs aim to address some of the most pressing unmet medical needs by identifying promising early-stage scientific findings and translating them into effective therapies. By leveraging state-of-the-art technologies and expertise from both academic and industry leaders, USC and Autobahn Labs are on track to make a lasting impact on the future of drug discovery. Ultimately, this partnership promises to improve patient outcomes across a variety of medical conditions, offering hope for new innovative therapies.