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AI Proteins, Inc., a US-based biotechnology company that utilises computational de novo protein design to create therapeutic miniproteins, has entered into a Research Collaboration and License Agreement with Astellas Innovation Management LLC, an affiliate of Japan-based Astellas Pharma Inc., to discover and develop novel miniprotein-based therapeutics.
Under the terms of the agreement, AI Proteins is eligible to receive over $400 million in upfront and milestone payments, plus royalties on net sales of any resulting products.
Under the collaboration, AI Proteins will apply its proprietary AI-driven discovery platform to design and optimise de novo miniproteins against multiple targets. These computationally designed miniproteins combine precise binding activity with sophisticated property engineering beyond what's possible with traditional nature-derived biologics.
Astellas holds an exclusive worldwide license to therapeutic candidates that emerge from the collaboration and will be responsible for advancing them through subsequent development, regulatory, and commercialisation activities.
Under the terms of the agreement, AI Proteins will receive an upfront cash payment to design and optimize miniproteins against targets selected by Astellas. Once candidates are ready to advance, Astellas will assume responsibility for their development, regulatory approval, and commercialisation. AI Proteins is eligible to receive milestone payments and royalties on net sales of any commercialised products.
