AI Unlocks the Secret to Cell Entry

1910 unveils PEGASUS™, an AI platform designed to help macrocyclic drugs cross cell membranes and speed early discovery

25 Feb 2026

1910 has published research on its artificial intelligence platform, PEGASUS™, aimed at improving the design of macrocyclic peptide drugs that can enter human cells, addressing a longstanding hurdle in drug development.

The study, released in a peer-reviewed journal, describes how the platform seeks to tackle cell permeability, a persistent challenge in peptide therapeutics. Macrocyclic peptides are valued for their ability to bind tightly to complex disease targets, including proteins linked to cancer and immune disorders. However, their relatively large size and chemical complexity often prevent them from crossing cell membranes, limiting their use.

PEGASUS™ uses artificial intelligence trained on laboratory-generated datasets to predict peptide structures that balance biological potency with features associated with cell entry. By modelling several properties at once, including stability and permeability-related characteristics, the system is designed to help researchers prioritise candidates with a higher predicted chance of success before moving to laboratory testing.

The company says this approach shifts early drug discovery towards more data-driven design. Rather than relying solely on repeated cycles of synthesis and experimental screening, researchers can use computational predictions to narrow the field of potential compounds, potentially reducing time and cost at the preclinical stage.

The publication comes as artificial intelligence tools gain wider adoption across the biotechnology sector. Groups such as XtalPi are developing AI-guided molecular design platforms, and investors continue to support companies that promise more efficient drug pipelines. Even so, most AI-designed drug candidates remain in early development, and their long-term value will depend on clinical outcomes.

Regulators are also increasing scrutiny of how AI systems are trained, validated and documented, particularly as such tools move closer to clinical decision-making.

While the broader impact of AI on pharmaceutical research remains uncertain, PEGASUS™ adds to a growing set of computational tools intended to expand the range of drug targets that can be addressed and to improve efficiency in the earliest stages of development.