TL;DR:
- AbbVie and BigHat Biosciences have partnered to advance therapeutic antibodies in oncology and neuroscience.
- BigHat’s Milliner™ platform, integrating AI and a high-speed wet lab, will guide antibody design and selection.
- The collaboration aims to accelerate drug development, offering innovative antibody-based therapies.
- BigHat receives a $30 million upfront payment and potential milestones of up to $325 million, with tiered royalties.
Main AI News:
In a strategic move towards innovation in drug development, AbbVie Inc. and BigHat Biosciences have joined forces in a research collaboration poised to reshape the future of therapeutic antibodies in the fields of oncology and neuroscience. This pioneering partnership leverages cutting-edge artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to expedite the discovery and development of next-generation therapeutic antibodies.
At the heart of this collaboration lies BigHat’s revolutionary Milliner™ platform, a state-of-the-art suite of machine learning tools seamlessly integrated with a high-speed wet lab. Together, AbbVie and BigHat will harness the power of AI/ML to guide the design and selection of high-quality antibodies, targeting multiple therapeutic objectives.
Jonathon Sedgwick, Ph.D., Vice President and Global Head of Discovery Research at AbbVie, underscored the significance of this venture, stating, “This collaboration further demonstrates our commitment to integrate AI/ML-based approaches in drug discovery and development, as we strive to accelerate our oncology and neuroscience pipeline, and deliver better medicines faster. We look forward to working with BigHat’s team to design novel antibody-based therapies that may help address persistent unmet needs faced by patients.”
Mark DePristo, CEO of BigHat, echoed this sentiment, expressing enthusiasm about the collaboration with AbbVie, a global leader in driving drug development innovation. He highlighted the capabilities of the Milliner™ platform, stating, “Milliner™ allows rapid optimization of multiple key parameters, including functionality and developability, to help deliver complex antibodies with improved characteristics faster.“
Under the terms of this groundbreaking agreement, BigHat will receive an upfront payment of $30 million. Additionally, they may become eligible for up to approximately $325 million in aggregate research and development milestones, with the potential for further commercial milestones and tiered royalties on net sales. This collaboration signifies a bold stride towards advancing medical science through the fusion of artificial intelligence and biotechnology, and the possibilities it presents are boundless.
Conclusion:
The collaboration between AbbVie and BigHat Biosciences, combining AI and biotechnology for therapeutic antibody development, signals a significant leap in the pharmaceutical market. By leveraging advanced technology and machine learning, this partnership has the potential to streamline drug discovery, accelerate innovation, and address unmet medical needs, ultimately shaping a more competitive and dynamic pharmaceutical landscape.