image credit- shutterstock
Insilico Medicine, a Hong Kong-based clinical-stage generative artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery company, and South Korea-based SK Biopharmaceuticals, have announced a research and development collaboration at the BIO 2026 International Convention to discover AI-enabled innovative drug candidates in the neuroimmune area of the central nervous system (CNS).
Neuroimmune disorders, including neuroinflammatory, neurodegenerative, and rare neurological disorders, remain among the most challenging therapeutic areas in modern medicine, with significant unmet patient need and historically low clinical success rates.
Under the agreement, Insilico will leverage its proprietary Pharma.AI platform, which spans target validation, generative chemistry, and molecule optimisation, together with its preclinical drug discovery expertise to discover, design, and optimize novel candidates for neuroimmune indications.
SK Biopharmaceuticals will contribute its extensive development and clinical capabilities in neuroimmune disorders, steering the late-stage development and commercialisation of all resulting programmes. Together, the two companies aim to accelerate discovery timelines and advance next-generation therapies for patients worldwide.
Financially, Insilico will be eligible to receive up to $18 million in upfront and near-term milestone payments. The total potential deal value exceeds $2.5 billion, including development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, as well as single-digit royalties on net sales upon commercialisation.
Notably, the partnership sets a record by total potential deal value that Insilico has secured with Asia Pacific (APAC) partners to date.