BMS and VantAI Partner to Accelerate Molecular Glue Discovery Using Generative AI, with Potential Deal Value of $674 Million

On February 13, VantAI andBMSAnnounced a collaboration to accelerate the discovery of molecular glues using generative AI technology. This partnership will combine VantAI's expertise in geometric deep learning with Bristol-Myers Squibb's experience in targeted protein degrader development.

VantAI is eligible to receive up to $674 million in discovery, development, clinical, regulatory, and sales milestone payments from BMS, as well as tiered royalties, with the option to further expand into other therapeutic programs.

VantAI CEO Zachary Carpenter believes that molecular glue drugs have broad prospects but are difficult to discover. AI technology may be the best tool to overcome this challenge.

Apart from BMS, in April 2022, VantAI also entered into collaborations with Janssen, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, and BI successively. The collaboration with Janssen mainly leverages VantAI's geometric deep learning platform to develop novel molecular glue and heterobifunctional protein degrader candidates targeting important disease targets, and the two parties will collaborate to discover new E3 ubiquitin ligase platforms. The collaboration with BI focuses on degrading traditionally undruggable targets.

Notably, since 2024, multinational corporations (MNCs) have been actively engaging in the AI pharmaceuticals sector. Among them, a company namedIsomorphic LabsCompany(An independent subsidiary of Alphabet, developing the next generation of AlphaFold)Selected by both Eli Lilly and Novartis. Isomorphic Labs will collaborate with Eli Lilly to discover small-molecule therapies targeting multiple sites, with a potential total collaboration value of up to $1.745 billion; the collaboration with Novartis will focus on developing small-molecule therapies for three undisclosed targets, with a potential total collaboration value of up to $1.2375 billion. In addition, similar to Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS), Merck has also made the latest moves in the generative AI field.