Seek Labs Maps Measles Virus with BioSeeker™, Opening the Door to First-Ever Programmable Antiviral Therapeutic Amid Global Outbreaks

Seek Labs, a biotech company boldly seeking a healthier world through AI-powered discovery, programmable therapeutics, and point-of-care diagnostics, today 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.

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.

About Seek Labs

At Seek Labs, we don’t wait for change—we build it. We’re seeking the breakthroughs the world can’t wait for by developing programmable “seek and destroy” therapeutics and point-of-care molecular diagnostics that close the gap between outbreak and intervention. Powered by our AI discovery engine, BioSeeker™, these platforms form a full-stack development engine—from target discovery to real-world deployment—designed to accelerate innovation and impact across global health.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Seek Labs is a proud member of BioHive, Utah’s collaborative life sciences ecosystem. Together with our partners, we’re building faster, smarter solutions for the world’s most urgent health challenges.

Forward-Looking Statements and Regulatory Disclaimer

This press release includes forward-looking statements about Seek Labs’ technologies, development plans, and partnership opportunities. These statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ. The technologies described are investigational and have not been reviewed or approved by the FDA or any other regulatory authority for clinical or commercial use.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250623150390/en/