Almirall and Absci Expand AI Drug Creation Collaboration Adding a Second Dermatology Target
Absci (NASDAQ:ABSI) and Almirall (BME:ALM) have expanded their AI Drug Discovery collaboration by adding a second dermatology target. This expansion follows successful delivery of AI-designed antibody leads against the first difficult-to-drug target from their November 2023 collaboration.
The partnership combines Absci's Integrated Drug Creation™ platform with Almirall's dermatology expertise to develop novel therapeutics for skin diseases. Absci could receive up to $650 million in various milestone payments plus royalties, while being responsible for designing and validating therapeutic candidates. Almirall will lead preclinical and clinical development programs.
Absci (NASDAQ:ABSI) e Almirall (BME:ALM) hanno ampliato la loro collaborazione nel campo della scoperta di farmaci basata sull'IA, aggiungendo un secondo target dermatologico. Questa estensione arriva dopo il successo nella progettazione di anticorpi tramite IA contro il primo target difficile da trattare, risultato della loro collaborazione iniziata a novembre 2023.
La partnership unisce la piattaforma Integrated Drug Creation™ di Absci con l'expertise dermatologica di Almirall per sviluppare nuovi trattamenti per le malattie della pelle. Absci potrà ricevere fino a 650 milioni di dollari in pagamenti legati a milestone e royalties, assumendosi la responsabilità di progettare e validare i candidati terapeutici. Almirall guiderà invece i programmi di sviluppo preclinico e clinico.
Absci (NASDAQ:ABSI) y Almirall (BME:ALM) han ampliado su colaboración en el descubrimiento de fármacos con IA añadiendo un segundo objetivo dermatológico. Esta expansión sigue al exitoso desarrollo de anticuerpos diseñados con IA contra el primer objetivo difícil de tratar, logrado desde el inicio de su colaboración en noviembre de 2023.
La asociación combina la plataforma Integrated Drug Creation™ de Absci con la experiencia dermatológica de Almirall para desarrollar nuevos tratamientos para enfermedades de la piel. Absci podría recibir hasta 650 millones de dólares en pagos por hitos y regalías, siendo responsable del diseño y validación de candidatos terapéuticos. Almirall liderará los programas de desarrollo preclínico y clínico.
Absci (NASDAQ:ABSI)와 Almirall (BME:ALM)은 AI 기반 신약 발견 협력을 확장하여 두 번째 피부과 목표를 추가했습니다. 이번 확장은 2023년 11월 협력 시작 이후 첫 번째 난치성 타깃에 대해 AI가 설계한 항체 후보를 성공적으로 제공한 데 따른 것입니다.
이번 파트너십은 Absci의 Integrated Drug Creation™ 플랫폼과 Almirall의 피부과 전문 지식을 결합해 피부 질환 치료를 위한 새로운 치료제를 개발합니다. Absci는 다양한 마일스톤 지급금과 로열티를 포함해 최대 6억 5천만 달러를 받을 수 있으며, 치료 후보 설계 및 검증을 담당합니다. Almirall은 전임상 및 임상 개발 프로그램을 주도할 예정입니다.
Absci (NASDAQ:ABSI) et Almirall (BME:ALM) ont étendu leur collaboration en découverte de médicaments par IA en ajoutant une deuxième cible dermatologique. Cette extension fait suite à la réussite de la conception par IA d'anticorps candidats contre la première cible difficile à traiter, issue de leur collaboration débutée en novembre 2023.
Le partenariat combine la plateforme Integrated Drug Creation™ d'Absci avec l'expertise dermatologique d'Almirall pour développer de nouveaux traitements pour les maladies de la peau. Absci pourrait recevoir jusqu'à 650 millions de dollars en paiements liés à des étapes clés ainsi que des redevances, tout en étant responsable de la conception et de la validation des candidats thérapeutiques. Almirall prendra en charge les programmes de développement préclinique et clinique.
Absci (NASDAQ:ABSI) und Almirall (BME:ALM) haben ihre Zusammenarbeit im Bereich der KI-gestützten Wirkstoffforschung erweitert und ein zweites dermatologisches Ziel hinzugefügt. Diese Erweiterung folgt auf die erfolgreiche Entwicklung von KI-designten Antikörperkandidaten gegen das erste schwer zu behandelnde Ziel, die aus ihrer Zusammenarbeit im November 2023 hervorging.
Die Partnerschaft vereint die Integrated Drug Creation™ Plattform von Absci mit Almiralls dermatologischem Fachwissen, um neuartige Therapeutika für Hauterkrankungen zu entwickeln. Absci kann bis zu 650 Millionen US-Dollar an Meilensteinzahlungen und Lizenzgebühren erhalten und ist für das Design und die Validierung therapeutischer Kandidaten verantwortlich. Almirall übernimmt die Leitung der präklinischen und klinischen Entwicklungsprogramme.
- Successful delivery of AI-designed antibody leads against difficult-to-drug target from first collaboration phase
- Potential revenue of up to $650 million in milestone payments plus royalties for Absci
- Expansion validates effectiveness of Absci's AI de novo drug design platform
- Clear division of responsibilities: Absci handles design/validation while Almirall manages development
- Milestone payments are contingent on achieving R&D and post-approval targets
- Development timeline and success rates for AI-designed therapeutics remain uncertain
Insights
Absci's AI platform validation through Almirall's selection of a second target strengthens its business model and technology credibility.
This expanded collaboration represents a significant validation of Absci's AI drug creation platform. The addition of a second dermatology target follows demonstrated success with their first target, specifically highlighting Absci's ability to design functional antibody leads against difficult-to-drug targets - a capability that substantially differentiates them in the competitive AI drug discovery landscape.
The
Most importantly, this expansion signals that Almirall has seen enough promising early data to justify doubling down on the partnership. In the AI drug discovery field, this type of sequential expansion is particularly valuable as it provides real-world validation that the platform can deliver functional therapeutic candidates rather than just theoretical designs.
The strategic split of responsibilities leverages each company's strengths - Absci handling AI design and wet lab validation, while Almirall manages downstream development. This represents a capital-efficient model for Absci while giving them exposure to milestone-based returns if candidates progress. For investors, this partnership model provides a clear path for Absci to potentially generate meaningful revenue without shouldering the full development costs and risks.
- 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
“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:
For more information, please visit https://www.almirall.com/
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| corporate.communication@almirall.com | investors@almirall.com |
| Phone: +34 93 291 35 08 | Phone: (+34) 93 291 30 87 |
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.
Absci Media Contact
press@absci.com
Absci Investor Contact
Alex Khan
VP, Finance & Investor Relations
investors@absci.com
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