UCB and XtalPi Collaborate on Advanced AI Solutions for Biologics Discovery

UCB and XtalPi Join Forces for Biologics Discovery

In a groundbreaking development, UCB, a prominent global biopharmaceutical company, has partnered with XtalPi, a leader in AI-driven drug discovery. This collaboration centers around the licensing of XtalFold™, an advanced AI platform for biologics developed by Ailux Biologics, a division of XtalPi. This strategic agreement promises to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of drug discovery processes, particularly for biologics, a critical segment of modern pharmaceuticals.

Transforming Drug Discovery with AI

XtalFold™ is designed to provide rapid and precise structural insights, fundamentally transforming how biologics, such as monoclonal antibodies, are discovered and optimized. This AI-powered software suite is expected to not only streamline the discovery process but also broaden the horizon for therapeutic applications by facilitating the development of innovative molecules more quickly than traditional methods.

Jian Ma, CEO of XtalPi, expressed pride in contributing to UCB’s mission of creating transformative therapies. He emphasized that UCB has long been a frontrunner in utilizing computational methods to pioneer biologics that meaningfully improve patient outcomes. This partnership further cements that legacy with cutting-edge technology at its core.

XtalFold™: Key Features and Benefits

The capabilities of XtalFold™ are impressive. It employs sequence data to model molecular interactions that are essential for biotherapeutics. Rigorous benchmarking has demonstrated its superior performance in challenging areas, such as the intricate antibody-antigen interfaces that are often difficult to model with traditional methods. UCB’s successful track record in antibody discovery is complemented by the infusion of XtalFold™ into its workflow, enhancing the process of hit identification and the optimization of therapeutic candidates.

Daniel Lightwood, Head of Antibody Discovery and Optimization at UCB, elaborated on the impressive credentials of XtalFold™. He noted that it integrates critical structural insights into the entire antibody discovery and optimization workflow, reinforcing UCB’s already robust discovery methodologies, which include proprietary single-B cell screening technologies.

The integration of this AI technology comes after UCB engaged in extensive testing and evaluation, confirming that XtalFold™ would significantly elevate their ability to identify high-quality therapeutic candidates rapidly while accelerating the development timeline for new medications.

The Future of Biologics

There’s growing enthusiasm around the collaboration, with Yi (Alex) Li, VP of XtalPi and Head of Ailux Biologics, noting that the recent Nobel Prize recognition of protein structure prediction underlines the ongoing relevance of XtalFold™ in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. With its commercial validation and rapid adoption, XtalFold™ stands as a testament to what the future of drug discovery holds.

Beyond UCB, XtalFold™ has been licensed to multiple global pharmaceutical enterprises, demonstrating its capacity to yield significant results across various projects. These include antigen design, epitope identification, and the engineering of properties like pH sensitivity.

This collaboration not only strengthens UCB’s biopharmaceutical initiatives but also enhances XtalPi’s position in the field of AI-assisted drug discovery, potentially heralding a new era of accessible and effective biologics.

About UCB

UCB, based in Brussels, Belgium, is dedicated to discovering and developing innovative therapies for people with severe immune system or central nervous system disorders. With a global footprint of approximately 9,000 professionals across 40 countries, UCB has consistently aimed to transform patient lives with revenue reaching €5.3 billion in 2023. The company is publicly traded on Euronext Brussels under the symbol UCB.

About XtalPi

Founded in 2015 by physicists from MIT, XtalPi combines robotics, AI, and quantum physics to revolutionize research and development across various sectors, including biomedicine and advanced materials. Its strong commitment to driving digital transformation in life sciences positions it as a key player in current and future pharmaceutical innovations.

As UCB and XtalPi push the boundaries of what's possible in drug discovery, the healthcare landscape stands to benefit significantly from their collaborative endeavors.