Generative AI drug creation company Absci Corporation (Nasdaq:ABSI) and Almirall S.A. (BME:ALM), a biopharmaceutical company focused on medical dermatology, said on Tuesday that they are joining forces in a groundbreaking drug discovery partnership.

The collaboration, marking Almirall's first de novo AI drug venture, aims to develop and commercialise AI-designed therapeutics targeting chronic dermatological diseases.

This strategic alliance leverages Absci's Integrated Drug Creation platform and Almirall's dermatological expertise to advance the development of life-changing medicines for patients. The partnership underscores Absci's recent achievement in designing and validating de novo therapeutic antibodies using its 'zero-shot' generative AI technology.

Under the agreement, Absci will apply its de novo generative AI to create and commercialise therapeutic candidates for two dermatological targets. In addition to product royalties, Absci stands to receive up to approximately USD650m in upfront fees, R&D and post-approval milestone payments across the two programmes, contingent on successful milestones.

Absci's founder and CEO, Sean McClain, highlighted the transformative potential of this collaboration in dermatologic drug development, foreseeing significant advancements in using AI for treating chronic inflammatory diseases more broadly. The partnership, addressing critical medical needs, aligns with Absci's commitment to creating improved biologics for a wide range of diseases impacting millions worldwide.