AstraZeneca, the COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer, has signed a $555 million agreement for genetic research using AI.

AstraZeneca collaborates with Algen for developing gene therapy using AI and CRISPR

The British-Swedish company AstraZeneca has entered into an agreement with Algen Biotechnologies to develop innovative gene therapy methods based on CRISPR technology and artificial intelligence.

AstraZeneca has signed a deal with the biotech startup Algen Biotechnologies to develop and commercialize advanced therapies. Under the agreement, Algen Biotechnologies will receive up to $555 million upon achieving certain regulatory and commercial milestones. AstraZeneca will gain exclusive rights to develop and sell the resulting drugs without purchasing a stake in Algen.

The partnership aims to combine artificial intelligence and CRISPR technology to create new therapies capable of fighting immune system diseases. Algen’s co-founder, Chun-Hao Huang, emphasized the innovative aspect of integrating both technologies for developing effective solutions.

Algen was founded based on the Berkeley lab, where professor Jennifer Doudna created the CRISPR technology, for which she received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020. She continues to collaborate with Algen in an advisory role. The Financial Times notes that big pharmaceutical companies are actively seeking new opportunities to integrate AI to accelerate the development of medical solutions.

The agreement with Algen is not AstraZeneca’s first collaboration with companies specializing in artificial intelligence. Previously, AstraZeneca teamed up with BenevolentAI to research lung and kidney diseases, and in 2023, a deal was signed with the American firm Absci to develop antibodies for cancer treatment.