U.S.-based biotech firm Nabla Bio and Japanese pharmaceutical giant Takeda have announced the expansion of their partnership to accelerate the discovery of novel antibody therapies using artificial intelligence (AI).
The renewed collaboration will build on the success of their initial agreement, allowing Takeda to leverage Nabla Bio’s AI-powered platform to design and optimize antibody candidates more efficiently. The goal is to speed up the development of next-generation therapeutics across several disease areas.
Nabla Bio, a spinout from Harvard University, specializes in using machine learning to predict and design antibody structures with high precision. Its proprietary platform analyzes vast datasets to identify antibodies with the potential to bind specific disease targets a process that traditionally takes years.
“This extended partnership validates the impact of our technology in real world drug discovery,” said Nabla Bio CEO Surge Biswas. “Together with Takeda, we’re advancing the boundaries of what’s possible in biologics.”
Takeda will continue to provide therapeutic targets and clinical insights, while Nabla Bio will use its AI models to design optimized antibodies. The deal includes upfront funding, milestone-based payments, and royalties, though financial details were not disclosed.
The partnership reflects a broader trend in the biopharmaceutical industry, where companies are increasingly integrating AI to streamline drug discovery, reduce costs, and improve success rates.
“AI is transforming how we approach complex diseases,” said Dr. Sarah Hongo, head of Takeda’s R&D Partnerships. “By combining Nabla Bio’s computational strengths with our deep clinical expertise, we aim to deliver innovative therapies faster.”
The expanded agreement signals confidence in AI’s growing role in biologic drug development, particularly in areas like oncology, immunology, and rare diseases.
source: reuters.com
Leave a Reply