PostEra Expands AI Drug Discovery Partnership with Pfizer to $610 Million

PostEra Expands AI Drug Discovery Collaboration with Pfizer to $610M

In a significant development within the biotechnology sector, PostEra has announced an expansion of its partnership with Pfizer, raising the total collaboration value to an impressive $610 million. This expansion underscores the growing importance of artificial intelligence in accelerating drug discovery processes.

PostEra, known for its innovative machine-learning technology in preclinical drug development, will continue its successful work with Pfizer, which began with a focused collaboration on generative chemistry. This expansion not only enhances their existing $260 million AI Lab partnership but also introduces a new collaboration centered on Antibody-Drug-Conjugates (ADCs).

The use of PostEra's cutting-edge AI platform, Proton, will be pivotal in this partnership. Proton is designed to facilitate advancements in generative chemistry and synthesis-aware design, enabling the teams to optimize a wide range of therapeutic programs, including ADCs and small molecule therapeutics. PostEra stands to gain an upfront payment of $12 million, along with additional milestones and tiered royalties for any approved products resulting from this collaboration.

For over three years, scientists from both PostEra and Pfizer have closely collaborated to accelerate numerous small molecule programs. Now, following Pfizer's nomination of the maximum number of these programs, the teams are excited to explore additional targets, which will be incorporated into the expanded collaboration agreement.

Alpha Lee, the Chief Scientific Officer of PostEra, expressed optimism about this expanded partnership, highlighting the significance of the Proton platform: "We are pleased to significantly expand the use of PostEra's Proton platform. This builds on peer-reviewed publications with Pfizer validating the real-world impact of AI-driven drug discovery in hitting preclinical milestones faster than anticipated."

Furthermore, Aaron Morris, CEO of PostEra, remarked, "This third partnership with our long-term collaborators at Pfizer underscores Proton's depth and strength in making a meaningful impact on real-world drug discovery campaigns."

PostEra is at the forefront of modern biopharma, utilizing its innovative AI platform to revolutionize the discovery of new medicines tailored for patient needs. With an internal pipeline and several successful partnerships, the company has secured over $1 billion in AI collaborations, featuring notable agreements with Pfizer and Amgen. PostEra is also pivotal in leading an antiviral drug discovery center, focused on pandemic preparedness, buoyed by one of the largest grants ever allocated by the NIH.

In summary, this expanded collaboration between PostEra and Pfizer represents a significant leap forward in AI-driven drug discovery, potentially leading to faster development of crucial therapeutics that could significantly impact public health. The partnership not only reflects the companies' commitment to innovation in drug development but also highlights the transformative power of AI in biopharmaceutical research.