Empiric Logic, a bioinformatics SaaS (software-as-a-service) startup, has announced that it has signed a partnership agreement with aCGT Vector, a point-of-care cellular therapy company.

Under the agreement Empiric Logic will apply its secure machine learning data analytics capabilities to support aCGT Vector in bringing its precision medicine therapies quicker and more efficiently to market, in Ireland and further afield, to help improve patient outcomes.

AI data analysis and bioinformatics orchestration platform

Empiric Logic has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) data analysis and bioinformatics orchestration platform to simplify the exploration of human health, using genomics and other data.

aCGT Vector’s focus is cellular therapy, including CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T) cell immunotherapy, which is rapidly evolving as a therapeutic procedural approach for the treatment of rare diseases, and most critically cancer.

Empiric Logic, founded by Gareth O’Sullivan in 2018, is headquartered at NovaUCD, in Dublin, and is an Enterprise Ireland high-potential start-up (HPSU).

“We’re delighted to be able to partner with aCGT Vector and participate in their journey to disrupt the CAR-T-cell therapeutic development space and help them to bring these proven life-saving precision medicines more efficiently and quickly to patients in Ireland and around the world,” said Gareth O’Sullivan, CEO, Empiric Logic.

“Partnerships such as this enable Empiric Logic to further improve our ability to address varied use cases for our technology while also helping blend genomics analysis with analysis of other clinical and phenotype data. Access to well curated and quality data sources is a key driver in allowing us to help companies such as aCGT Vector improve patient outcomes.”

'Aligned vision'

Gary McAuslan, CEO, aCGT Vector, said: “When identifying partners to work with, aCGT Vector places a great emphasis on finding companies with an aligned vision and an eagerness to drive further innovation in precision medicine development.

“Empiric Logic has that vision and not only are they going to be able to help us with access to their software platform capability, they will also help us architect and further refine our data curation, collection, analysis and management process. This will enable us to make better use of the data we collect to support better patient care and outcomes in a secure and privacy preserving manner.”

aCGT Vector, based at the Mill Enterprise Hub in Co. Louth, is also a member of the HEALED Consortium, which last year secured Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) funding of €6.8m as part of a three-year, €10.5m programme, to develop next generation cell therapies for cancer.