Seek Labs, a biotech company boldly seeking a healthier world through AI-powered discovery, programmable therapeutics, and point-of-care diagnostics, announced the successful mapping of conserved therapeutic targets within the measles virus (MeV) genome using BioSeeker™, the company’s proprietary AI-powered discovery engine. Amid rising measles outbreaks worldwide, this breakthrough marks a foundational step toward developing the world’s first programmable antiviral therapeutic for measles, leveraging Seek Labs’ CRISPR-based Programmable Target Ablation Platform (PTAP™).
BioSeeker scanned thousands of publicly available measles virus isolates, identifying a multiplexed set of high-impact, PTAP-compatible genomic targets (stable, conserved regions most critical to viral replication). These sites form a blueprint for CRISPR-based “seek-and-destroy” therapeutics capable of irreversibly disabling the virus with speed, specificity, and resilience against resistance.
“This is exactly why we built BioSeeker; to deliver smarter, faster weapons against viral diseases that still lack effective treatments,” said Jared Bauer, CEO of Seek Labs. “There are no targeted therapeutics for measles once infection occurs. With BioSeeker, we can now design a precision treatment that shuts down the virus at its source, unlocking a powerful new paradigm for global health.”
A Game-Changing Response to the Measles Crisis
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world, spreading through airborne droplets and capable of causing severe complications, which include pneumonia, encephalitis, and death. Recent surges, such as the nearly 200,000 cases globally in early 2025, have placed renewed strain on public health systems and highlight the urgent need for scalable antiviral interventions.
The urgency of this breakthrough is underscored by Utah’s recent confirmation of its first measles case amid an ongoing national outbreak. As Seek Labs is headquartered in Salt Lake City, this development brings the crisis closer to home and emphasizes a critical need for accelerated antiviral solutions, especially in areas where vaccination rates remain low or immunity wanes.
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While Seek Labs is not advancing this candidate in-house, the company will make its complete BioSeeker-generated measles guide set available to qualified partners and is actively seeking collaborators to accelerate preclinical development.
“We’ve done the foundational work and now we’re inviting bold partners to help turn it into a breakthrough,” said Kim Wirthlin, Chief Strategy Officer. “This is a first-of-its-kind opportunity to co-develop a targeted antiviral for measles and reshape how the world responds to this disease.”
Part of a Global Disease Atlas to Outpace Emerging Threats
This milestone is part of Seek Labs’ broader initiative to build a Global Disease Atlas, a real-time, AI-powered genomic map of the world’s most dangerous pathogens. The Atlas is on track to map over 95% of high-burden viral threats across both human and animal health, guiding the development of pan-pathogen, programmable therapeutics and diagnostics designed to adapt faster than viral evolution. Powered by BioSeeker, the Atlas enables faster decision-making, smarter intervention points, and scalable innovation across public health, biodefense, and pandemic preparedness.
Seek Labs is actively partnering with biopharma, government, and global health organizations to move these discoveries into the clinic. Organizations interested in licensing, partnerships, or deploying these innovations for public health impact are encouraged to contact Seek Labs directly.
Source: Businesswire
