Syngenis Laboratories: Pioneering the Future of Biotechnology with AI
Australia’s biotechnology sector is experiencing a transformative shift, driven by the rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into scientific research and development. At the forefront of this innovation is Perth-based Syngenis Laboratories, which is positioning itself as a key player in the next generation of therapeutic and diagnostic solutions.
Syngenis has developed an AI-powered discovery platform called Syngenis Discovery, designed to revolutionise the process of identifying new therapies and diagnostic molecules. This platform addresses one of the most significant challenges in biotechnology: the identification of viable treatments from an enormous number of potential molecular combinations.
Traditional drug discovery processes are time-consuming and resource-intensive, often requiring months or even years of laboratory testing, modelling, and toxicity analysis. Researchers typically screen thousands of molecules before finding viable candidates. However, much of this work remains fragmented across multiple software systems and relies heavily on manual interpretation. Syngenis Discovery aims to streamline this workflow, reducing the time required for these tasks from months to just hours.
The Role of AI in Modern Biotechnology
According to Thomas Hanly, managing director of Syngenis Laboratories, “We are entering a period where biotechnology and artificial intelligence are converging in a very meaningful way.” This convergence is evident in the development of Syngenis Discovery, which leverages AI to evaluate molecular behaviour at a scale that was previously unattainable.
James Hill, former chief technology officer of ASX-listed medical technology company Singular Health and now Syngenis’ AI strategist, highlights the significance of this approach. “There are billions upon billions of potential sequence combinations,” he said. “No human research team can realistically explore that search space manually. AI allows us to evaluate molecular behaviour at a scale that simply was not commercially practical even a few years ago.”
Oligonucleotide Therapeutics: A Growing Opportunity
One of the most promising areas for Syngenis is the fast-growing field of oligonucleotide therapeutics. These are short synthetic genetic sequences designed to interact with cells at a molecular level, enabling scientists to switch off harmful genes or target diseases with greater precision.
The success of mRNA vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic has sparked global interest in RNA medicine, leading to increased investment in potential treatments for cancer, neurological disorders, inflammatory diseases, rare conditions, and inherited genetic illnesses.
Syngenis Discovery enables researchers to upload massive genetic and protein datasets from major global databases such as the US-based National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and UniProt, alongside their own commercial or academic research data.
To understand the scale of these archives, consider that NCBI’s GenBank database alone contains more than 6.27 billion nucleotide sequence records spanning over 53.9 trillion base pairs. UniProt, on the other hand, holds reference data on approximately 246 million proteins. This vast amount of information underscores the critical role of AI in therapy discovery.
Once the data is uploaded, Syngenis’ platform utilises a suite of specialised AI models to tackle different stages of the molecular discovery process, including sequence optimisation, structural prediction, toxicity screening, and binding analysis.
Enhancing Efficiency and Reducing Costs
By combining established principles of molecular chemistry with advanced machine learning, the system can rapidly generate and analyse enormous libraries of potential molecules at a scale far beyond traditional laboratory testing. Although the technology is not designed to replace day-to-day lab work, it can significantly narrow the search space before costly wet-lab validation begins, reducing development timelines, lowering failure rates, and improving the probability of clinical success.
The timing of these developments could not be better for Syngenis as it prepares for a public float on the ASX later in the year. This move will help expand its AI-driven biotechnology platform and clinical manufacturing ambitions.
Core Divisions and Strategic Vision
Syngenis has built its business around three core divisions: manufacturing, discovery, and diagnostics. Its manufacturing arm already generates revenue through a research laboratory serving about 40 customers across Australia and New Zealand. The AI-supported discovery division is developing diagnostic technologies targeting diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, while the diagnostics division focuses on rolling out rapid point-of-care tests and building sales and distribution channels for future product launches.
The company has assembled a team of experts in biotechnology, AI, and commercialisation, led by internationally recognised nucleic acid therapeutics specialist Professor Rakesh Veedu, former Singular Health CTO James Hill, and managing director Thomas Hanly, who has a track record of commercialising science-driven healthcare technologies into scalable investment opportunities.
Expanding Horizons with Aptamer Discovery
In addition to oligonucleotides, Syngenis Discovery is also focused on aptamer discovery. These molecules are gaining attention due to their precision, scalability, and manufacturing advantages, making them a potential next-generation alternative to traditional antibody technologies.
Thomas Hanly added, “We are entering a period where biotechnology and artificial intelligence are converging in a very meaningful way. Companies that can integrate advanced computation with deep molecular science will have a significant advantage in both discovery speed and commercialisation potential.”
For Syngenis, the vision extends beyond building a software platform. From its Perth base, the company aims to position itself at the intersection of biology, chemistry, and artificial intelligence, putting Australia at the forefront of next-generation biotechnology and accelerating the discovery of therapies and diagnostics.
As the AI revolution in drug discovery continues to gain momentum, Syngenis is working to ensure that Australia plays a central role in shaping this future.
