Almirall and Absci expand their AI collaboration for dermatological drug development, selecting a second difficult target.
Quiver AI Summary
Almirall and Absci Corporation have expanded their collaboration in AI Drug Discovery by targeting a second dermatological indication, following the success of their initial partnership that produced AI-designed antibodies against a challenging target. The collaboration combines Absci’s Integrated Drug Creation™ platform with Almirall’s expertise in medical dermatology to develop innovative treatments for chronic skin diseases. Almirall's Chief Scientific Officer highlighted the potential of using advanced AI in drug design, while Absci's CEO expressed pride in the collaboration's progress and their shared commitment to accelerating innovation in dermatology through generative AI. Absci stands to receive up to $650 million in potential payments and royalties as part of the collaboration.
Potential Positives
- Almirall is expanding its collaboration with Absci by selecting a second target for AI drug creation, indicating confidence in the initial results and the potential for innovative treatments in dermatology.
- The collaboration utilizes Absci's generative AI technology, which has already led to the development of successful therapeutic candidates for challenging targets, showcasing the effectiveness of this approach.
- Almirall has the opportunity to receive substantial financial benefits, with Absci eligible for up to approximately $650 million in payments and royalties, highlighting the potential for a lucrative outcome from this collaboration.
- This partnership positions Almirall at the forefront of innovation in dermatological therapies, aligning with their goal to accelerate treatment development for chronic skin conditions using advanced technology.
Potential Negatives
- The reliance on AI technology for drug discovery may raise concerns about the efficacy and safety of the therapeutics developed, as these methods are still emerging and subject to scrutiny.
- Expanding collaboration signals a potential acknowledgment of challenges in Almirall's internal research capabilities, necessitating external partnerships for innovation.
- The substantial potential payments to Absci (up to $650 million) represent a significant financial commitment that could affect Almirall's budget and future funding for other initiatives.
FAQ
What is the purpose of the Almirall and Absci collaboration?
The collaboration aims to accelerate AI-driven drug discovery for challenging dermatological conditions.
How many targets have been selected in the AI drug collaboration?
Almirall has selected a second target following the initial successful drug design against a difficult-to-drug target.
What financial incentives does Absci receive from this collaboration?
Absci is eligible for up to $650 million in payments plus royalties from potential product sales.
What is Absci's Integrated Drug Creation™ platform?
It combines AI models with a synthetic biology data engine to rapidly design innovative therapeutics.
When was the initial collaboration between Almirall and Absci announced?
The initial collaboration was announced in November 2023.
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated summary of a press release distributed by GlobeNewswire. The model used to summarize this release may make mistakes. See the full release here.
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Full Release
- Almirall selects second target in AI Drug Creation collaboration
- Expanded collaboration builds on Absci’s successful de novo molecule design for difficult ‑ to ‑ drug targets in the first stage of the collaboration with Almirall
BARCELONA, Spain and VANCOUVER, Wash., Aug. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Almirall (BME: ALM), a global biopharmaceutical company focused on medical dermatology, and Absci Corporation (Nasdaq: ABSI ), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advancing breakthrough therapeutics with generative AI, today announced the expansion of their ongoing AI Drug Discovery collaboration with Almirall’s selection of a second target aimed at dermatological indications.
The expansion of the collaboration follows the successful delivery of AI-designed, functional antibody leads against a difficult-to-drug target—the first target addressed within the initial collaboration between Almirall and Absci. The collaboration, originally announced in November 2023, combines Absci’s Integrated Drug Creation™ platform with Almirall’s dermatology expertise to accelerate the development of novel and breakthrough therapeutics for chronic and debilitating skin diseases.
“Using advanced AI capabilities to design therapeutic candidates against historically challenging disease targets is a highly promising approach and Absci´s de-novo AI platform capabilities have already demonstrated early success” said Dr. Karl Ziegelbauer, Chief Scientific Officer at Almirall. “We are pleased to expand our collaboration as we continue to harness AI to help us develop innovative treatments for patients living with severe skin conditions.”
Under the terms of the collaboration, Absci is leveraging its generative AI platform combined with its wet lab capabilities to design and validate therapeutic candidates, while Almirall leads the preclinical and clinical development programs of those candidates. Absci is eligible to receive up to approximately $650 million in upfront, R&D, and post-approval milestone payments across both programs, plus royalties on potential product sales.
“The progress in our collaboration is a testament that AI de novo drug design is a successful approach to unlock novel biology where traditional drug discovery approaches have failed,” said Sean McClain, Founder and CEO of Absci. “We’re proud of this milestone and excited to deepen our collaboration with Almirall with the goal of bringing a new generation of AI-created therapeutics for dermatology patients.”
The expansion of the collaboration to include a second program is at the heart of the shared commitment of both companies - to accelerate innovation in dermatology by using generative AI to enable new therapeutic approaches.
About Almirall
Almirall is a global pharmaceutical company dedicated to medical dermatology. We closely collaborate with leading scientists, healthcare professionals, and patients to deliver our purpose: to transform the patients' world by helping them realize their hopes and dreams for a healthy life . We are at the forefront of science to deliver ground-breaking, differentiated medical dermatology innovations that address patients´ needs.
Almirall, founded in 1944 and headquartered in Barcelona, is publicly traded on the Spanish Stock Exchange (ticker: ALM, total revenue in 2024: €990 MM, over 2000 employees globally). Almirall products help to improve the lives of patients every day and are available in over 100 countries.
For more information, please visit https://www.almirall.com/
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About Absci
Absci is advancing the future of drug discovery with generative design to create better biologics for patients, faster. Our Integrated Drug Creation™ platform combines cutting-edge AI models with a synthetic biology data engine, enabling the rapid design of innovative therapeutics that address challenging therapeutic targets. Absci’s approach leverages a continuous feedback loop between advanced AI algorithms and wet lab validation. Each cycle refines our data and strengthens our models, facilitating rapid innovation and enhancing the precision of our therapeutic designs. Alongside collaborations with top pharmaceutical, biotech, tech, and academic leaders, Absci is advancing its own pipeline of AI designed therapeutics. These include ABS-101, a potentially best-in-class antibody to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as well as other indications, and ABS-201, a groundbreaking innovation in hair regrowth with the potential to redefine treatment possibilities for androgenetic alopecia, commonly known as male and female pattern baldness. Absci is headquartered in Vancouver, WA, with an AI Research Lab in New York City, and Innovation Center in Switzerland. Learn more at www.absci.com or follow us on LinkedIn ( @absci ), X ( @Abscibio ) and YouTube .
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