SAN FRANCISCO– Algen Biotechnologies, a biotechnology company pioneering next-generation therapies through advanced CRISPR gene modulation and AI-driven functional genomics, announced a multi-target partnership with AstraZeneca to accelerate the discovery of novel therapeutic targets in immunology.
Under the agreement, Algen will apply its proprietary AlgenBrain™ functional genomics platform to uncover and validate disease-relevant targets, while AstraZeneca will receive exclusive rights to develop and commercialize therapies arising from the collaboration. Algen will receive an upfront payment and near-term development milestones, with the total potential deal value reaching up to $555 million based on future regulatory and commercial achievements.
“We’re excited to collaborate with AstraZeneca to bring the power of our AI-driven functional genomics platform to decode complex chronic inflammatory conditions for drug discovery,” said Chun-Hao Huang, Ph.D., CEO and Co-Founder of Algen Biotechnologies. “Together with AstraZeneca’s deep expertise in translational science and clinical development, we aim to uncover new biological insights to accelerate the development of novel therapies that can transform patient outcomes.”
Jim Weatherall, Ph.D., Chief Data Scientist of Biopharmaceuticals R&D at AstraZeneca, said, “We are using AI and machine learning to enhance the discovery of new targets, which we believe will help create more effective medicines. Truly transformative therapies begin with uncovering the right biological targets that have strong human translational relevance. Algen’s platform offers a powerful approach to achieving this.”
The AlgenBrain™ platform models disease progression by capturing billions of dynamic RNA changes across disease-relevant human cell types and linking them to functional outcomes and therapeutic potential through high-throughput CRISPR-based gene modulation. By mapping causal relationships between gene regulation and disease progression, the platform enables identification of novel genes that, when therapeutically targeted, could reverse disease processes. This data-driven, biology-first approach grounds drug discovery in human biology, improving translational accuracy and increasing the likelihood of clinical success.
“This collaboration with AstraZeneca represents a growing shift toward predictive, data-driven biology in drug discovery,” said Christine Du, MBA, Chief Business Officer and Co-Founder of Algen Biotechnologies. “AlgenBrain™ is designed to uncover the most actionable targets by integrating experimental biology with AI in a continuous learning loop. By mapping gene function to disease outcomes, we’re enabling a new era of precision discovery that can reshape how therapies are developed across immunology and beyond.”
Through this partnership, Algen and AstraZeneca aim to accelerate innovation in immunology by combining cutting-edge AI, high-dimensional functional genomics, and translational science to advance the next generation of targeted therapies.
