Key points from article :
Gilead Sciences has signed a $35 million partnership with Genesis Therapeutics, a biotech company specializing in AI-driven drug discovery. This collaboration marks Genesis' third major deal with a pharmaceutical company, following previous agreements with Genentech and Eli Lilly. Under the terms of the deal, Genesis will use its AI platform, GEMS, to identify potential drug candidates for three undisclosed targets. Gilead will have the option to expand the partnership by adding more targets for an additional fee. If successful, Gilead will have the rights to develop and commercialize the resulting compounds, while Genesis could receive milestone payments and royalties.
Genesis’ AI platform is designed to tackle difficult drug targets that lack sufficient training data for traditional machine learning approaches. According to the company’s CEO, Evan Feinberg, their generative AI system can overcome these challenges, making it a valuable tool for discovering new treatments. The company has previously attracted significant investment, securing $200 million in Series B funding from major firms like Andreessen Horowitz, BlackRock, and NVIDIA’s venture arm. This funding supports Genesis' efforts to advance its AI-driven drug candidates to clinical trials.
Meanwhile, Gilead continues to expand its AI-based drug discovery efforts. Earlier this year, the company invested $20 million in a collaboration with Cartography Biosciences to identify tumour-selective targets for cancer treatments. These partnerships highlight the growing role of AI in pharmaceutical research, offering new possibilities for tackling complex diseases.
