MDPath: FLTMC Finalist
MDPath is one of the finalists for the From Lab to Market Challenge.
We spoke with Niklas Piet Doering, Marvin Taterra (Co-Founders), and Gerhard Wolber (Advisor) about MDPath, one of the finalists in the From Lab to Market Challenge.
CHEManager: What is your technology, and what makes it work?
Niklas Piet Doering, Marvin Taterra, & Gerhard Wolber: MDPath converts molecular dynamics trajectories into actionable allosteric maps that guide drug discovery decisions. By tracing residue-level signaling paths between binding and effector sites, we reveal how candidate ligands modulate protein function. This de-risks lead selection by rationalizing SAR and ranking molecules on functional effect, not solely binding affinity. MDPath shifts computational drug discovery from affinity-centric screening toward mechanism- and outcome-driven design.
What problem does your technology solve, and what is the business potential?
N. P. Doering, M. Taterra, & G. Wolber: Roughly 40–50% of clinical trials fail on efficacy, a gap driven by drug discovery's reliance on binding affinity as a proxy for function. MDPath closes this gap by ranking candidates on predicted functional modulation, not just binding. Filtering non-functional molecules earlier reduces attrition in pipelines. The addressable market spans pharma R&D, biotech, and CROs deployable as a SaaS platform.
What's the next milestone your team is working towards?
N. P. Doering, M. Taterra, & G. Wolber: Our next milestone is securing an industry collaborator for a pilot project to demonstrate MDPath's prospective utility in an active drug discovery program. Current validation is largely retrospective, and a prospective real-world case study is critical to establish predictive value beyond benchmark systems. In parallel, we are developing the first alpha release of our SaaS platform to enable scalable, low-friction access for users.
