#USA #Boston #AI Drug Discovery #PostEra #Pfizer

PostEra Expands Partnership with Pfizer

In a significant advancement for artificial intelligence (AI) in drug discovery, PostEra, a biotech firm specializing in preclinical drug development through machine learning, has announced an expansion of its collaboration with Pfizer, now valued at $610 million.

Initially launching a partnership valued at $260 million to develop their AI Lab, the two companies will now embark on a new collaboration to explore antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) alongside the enhancement of existing small molecule programs. The partnership builds on successful preliminary work in generative chemistry, demonstrating the tangible benefits of AI in scientific research.

PostEra’s sophisticated AI platform, Proton, which has already gained recognition for its innovative contributions to generative chemistry and synthesis-oriented design, will be the cornerstone of this enhanced partnership. Proton will be utilized to optimize the payload characteristics of both small molecule therapeutics and ADCs, enabling more efficient pathways for drug development.

As part of this agreement, PostEra will receive an immediate upfront payment of $12 million, coupled with milestone payments and tiered royalties for any pharmaceuticals resulting from their collaborative efforts. Over the past three years, Pfizer and PostEra’s scientific teams have worked closely together, leading to significant breakthroughs in small molecule programs under the AI Lab. With Pfizer having evaluated and maximized the number of programs, both firms are now broadening their focus to include an expanded range of goals.

Alpha Lee, Chief Scientific Officer at PostEra, expressed excitement about the substantial expansion of the Proton platform's utilization. He emphasized that the collaboration has shown promising results, reflecting how AI can expedite the realization of preclinical milestones beyond initial expectations. Aaron Morris, CEO of PostEra, added that this intensified partnership highlights the remarkable capabilities of Proton in advancing real-world drug discovery initiatives.

For PostEra, this partnership is just one of the many ways it is working toward building a modern biopharmaceutical industry equipped for the 21st century. Besides its strong commitments toward internal drug discoveries, PostEra is also enhancing therapies through collaborations with biotechnology companies. Currently, the firm has secured over $1 billion worth of AI-driven partnerships, including long-term agreements with industry giants like Pfizer and Amgen. Furthermore, PostEra is at the helm of a groundbreaking research initiative focused on antiviral drug development, particularly aimed at preparing responses for potential pandemics, bolstered by one of the largest NIH grants in history.

Overall, the expanding partnership between PostEra and Pfizer marks a pivotal move forward in AI drug discovery, promising faster and more efficient medical innovations that can ultimately improve patient outcomes on a global scale.