Science
Translating bat biology into promising therapeutic candidates
In our pursuit of transformative therapies, we believe in venturing beyond traditional models and research methods. Bats, which have the richest source of mammalian data, hold the key to unlocking new strategies for treating human disease.
BATS: A DARWINIAN CHAMPION
More than 65 million years of biological evolution have yielded a mammal of extraordinary resilience. The remarkable evolutionary adaptations of bats allow them to reduce inflammation, thrive on extreme diets, tolerate viruses, and exhibit extended longevity.
Bats are an untapped model for studying the biological mechanisms that drive human disease. Sharing a mammalian ancestor, bats and humans exhibit notably similar genomes and pathways. However, bats’ distinct adaptations give them numerous biological advantages. These adaptations can help us understand and address unmet human health needs related to inflammation, metabolism, and more.
Bats and humans have been shown to share high homology between coding regions and up to 95-97% of annotated noncoding RNA genes
Bats account for ~20% of the 6400+ existing mammal species, representing the richest source of mammalian data
Powered flight exerts significant stress on bats’ cells, ultimately driving many of their physiologic adaptations
Bats’ elusive lifestyle has made them difficult to study…until now. We created the Bat Biology Foundation as a unit of Paratus to advance bat research by facilitating sample collection from novel bat species and fostering deep relationships with researchers.
Paratus:
Pioneers in translational bat research
With direct access to one of the largest collections of bat genomes and tissue samples, we’re unlocking insights into bat biology research to improve human health.
Our integrated discovery platform
We merge genomics and informatics to rapidly discover promising drug targets. Our platform compares the evolved patterns of disease in bats with the patterns of disease development and progression in humans.
Through this data-driven comparative analysis, we aim to accelerate the development of innovative therapeutics that can mimic bat adaptations to address human disease.
Powered by top-tier technologies from leading medical and research institutions
Our process
SEQUENCE
We sequence DNA samples from a wide range of bat species to map bat genomics.
IDENTIFY
By comparing large sets of bat genomes to outgroup mammalian species and humans, we identify promising targets that drive bats’ unique adaptations with translatability to therapeutic areas of interest.
Prioritize
Through our comprehensive analysis, we prioritize the targets with the most potential to transform human disease.
VALIDATE
We build relevant disease models to validate targets in human systems and advance the top candidates through drug discovery and development.
We’re using our integrated process and industrial expertise to accelerate drug discovery for immunological and inflammatory and cardiometabolic diseases.
