Evogene and Unravel AI Partnership Could Finally Reverse Multiple Sclerosis Damage
Biotech leaders Evogene and Unravel Biosciences have joined forces in a landmark 2026 collaboration to develop the first AI-driven therapy capable of repairing myelin. By combining generative chemistry with "Living Molecular Twins" patient data, the partnership aims to move beyond slowing MS progression toward actively reversing neurological damage.
A New Frontier in Neurological Recovery
For decades, the medical community has made incredible strides in managing Multiple Sclerosis (MS), but a "cure" or even a way to undo the damage already done has remained frustratingly out of reach. Most current disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) work by suppressing the immune system to prevent new attacks. While effective at slowing the disease, they do little for the millions of people already living with permanent neurological deficits. That narrative is beginning to change in 2026, thanks to a high-tech collaboration between Evogene Ltd. and Unravel Biosciences.
Announced in early January, this partnership is specifically designed to tackle the "holy grail" of neurology: remyelination. By leveraging advanced artificial intelligence, these two companies are working to design small-molecule drugs that can actually repair the protective myelin sheath around nerve fibers, potentially restoring lost functions like mobility, vision, and cognitive clarity.
The Power of Two AI Platforms Joining Forces
What makes this collaboration particularly potent is the synergy between two very different types of AI. On one side, we have Evogene’s ChemPass AI. This platform is a generative chemistry powerhouse, capable of "designing" new molecules from scratch. It doesn't just search a library of existing chemicals; it uses algorithms to build the perfect key for a specific biological lock, ensuring the drug can cross the notoriously difficult blood-brain barrier.
On the other side is Unravel Biosciences’ BioNAV™ platform. Before you can design a drug, you need to know exactly what to target. Unravel’s AI specializes in "predictive biology," using a massive datamine of real-world patient information to identify the specific biological pathways that lead to demyelination. According to recent reports from Multiple Sclerosis News Today, Unravel has already identified a novel, "druggable" target that could be the secret to triggering the body's natural repair mechanisms.
Predictable Medicine and Living Molecular Twins
One of the most fascinating aspects of this project is the use of "Living Molecular Twins." This isn't just a buzzword; it’s a sophisticated method of creating virtual, RNA-based replicas of individual patients. By testing how these "twins" respond to various AI-designed molecules in a digital environment, researchers can predict how a human will react before a single dose is ever administered in a clinical trial.
Richard Novak, CEO of Unravel Biosciences, has emphasized that this "function-first" approach is about speed. "Patients cannot wait," he noted during the launch of the partnership. By using advanced network simulations, the teams can skip years of trial-and-error that typically plague traditional drug development. This data-driven strategy, often called Predictable Medicine™, aims to ensure that the lead candidates moved into clinical trials in late 2026 have the highest possible chance of success.
Why Remyelination Changes Everything
To understand why this is a breakthrough, one must look at what happens in a typical MS patient. The immune system mistakenly attacks myelin, the fatty insulation that allows electrical signals to travel through the brain and spinal cord. When the insulation is gone, the signals "leak" or stop entirely, leading to disability. While the body has a natural ability to repair this (remyelination), that process usually fails as the disease progresses or as we age.
The goal of the Evogene-Unravel partnership is to "restart" that engine. As noted by PR Newswire, their joint effort focuses on designing brain-penetrant inhibitors that can flip the switch back to "repair mode." If successful, this wouldn't just be another drug on the shelf—it would represent a fundamental shift from management to restoration.
Looking Toward a 2026 Clinical Roadmap
As we move through 2026, the biotech industry will be watching this collaboration closely. Unravel is already a clinical-stage company with four trials scheduled to begin this year, and the addition of Evogene’s generative chemistry models could fast-track their MS candidate into the pipeline sooner than expected. For the 3 million people worldwide living with Multiple Sclerosis, the promise of AI isn't just about faster computers—it’s about the very real possibility of walking, seeing, and living without the shadow of progressive damage.
