Evogene and Professor Ehud Gazit of Tel Aviv University Announce a Collaboration to Develop New Therapeutics for Metabolic Diseases

13 August 2025, Israel: Evogene Ltd. (Nasdaq, TASE: EVGN), a leading computational biology and chemistry company, today announced a scientific collaboration with the pioneering research group of Professor Ehud Gazit from Tel Aviv University, a world leader in the field of molecular self-assembly. This collaboration agreement was facilitated by Ramot, Tel Aviv University’s tech transfer company. This partnership aims to accelerate the discovery and optimization of novel small molecules as potential drug candidates for a range of diseases caused by the ordered self-assembly of small metabolites.

Metabolite accumulation, often due to impaired metabolic breakdown of specific molecules, drives the ordered self-assembly process that forms detrimental aggregates, characterizing a range of common and rare diseases, including Tyrosinemia, Gout, and Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD).

The goal of this collaboration is to design novel small molecules capable of effectively inhibiting pathological self-assembly processes, thereby paving the way for groundbreaking new therapeutics that could change the lives of millions of patients.

The collaboration brings together Evogene’s ChemPass AI‘s state-of-the-art computational capabilities for generative molecular design with Professor Gazit’s world-renowned expertise in the characterization and manipulation of the self-organization of biological molecules. Professor Gazit’s discovery of the ability of very short peptides, as well as metabolites, to form typical amyloidal nano-fibrils offers critical insights into disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic interventions. This deep scientific understanding will be coupled with Evogene’s generative AI models, purpose-built to optimize across multiple key parameters, offering a synergistic solution.

The collaboration is aimed at leveraging ChemPass AI‘s advanced algorithms and models to:

• Decipher desired modes of action: Gaining a profound understanding of how therapeutic agents can intervene in metabolite self-assembly.
• Drive generative molecular design with ChemPass AI: Utilizing the power of AI to create entirely novel molecules tailored to exhibit a precise combination of features necessary for therapeutic efficacy.

 Professor Ehud Gazit from Tel Aviv University stated: “We are excited to join forces with Evogene in this groundbreaking endeavor. For more than a decade, our research has revealed for the first time how small metabolites can self-assemble into amyloid-like structures that contribute to the pathology of numerous rare and common diseases. By integrating our fundamental understanding of molecular self-assembly with Evogene’s cutting-edge AI-driven drug design platform, we have a unique opportunity to develop novel therapeutics that specifically target these pathological processes and ultimately improve treatment for patients.”

 Dr. Gabi Tarcic, Evogene’s VP Product, stated: “This collaboration with Professor Gazit’s outstanding research group at Tel Aviv University represents a significant milestone in our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge computational chemistry and AI to address complex medical challenges. By combining Professor Gazit’s deep insights into molecular self-assembly with our powerful ChemPass AI platform, we aim to accelerate the discovery of truly novel therapeutics that could profoundly impact the lives of millions suffering from metabolite aggregation diseases.”

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