GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has formed a strategic drug-discovery collaboration with Exscientia, a company specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) for drug development. Exscientia will apply its AI-enabled platform and combine this with the expertise of GSK to discover selective small molecules for up to 10 disease-related targets nominated by GSK across multiple therapeutic areas.

The total amount payable by GSK to Exscientia on achieving these milestones is £33 million ($42 million) if all 10 projects are advanced. The company will receive research payments from GSK to undertake new discovery programs with nominated targets with the goal of delivering preclinical candidates. In addition to research funding, Exscientia is eligible to receive near-term lead and preclinical candidate milestones if all objectives are achieved. As part of the collaboration, Exscientia says it is incentivized to reduce the number of compounds required for synthesis and assay in order to achieve lead and candidate compound goals. 

Earlier this year, Sanofi formed a strategic research collaboration and license option agreement with Exscientia, worth up to $272 million for bispecific small molecules to treat metabolic diseases using artificial intelligence.

In addition to GSK and Sanofi, Exscientia is collaborating with several other companies, including Evotec, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma, and Sunovion Pharmaceuticals.

Source: Exscientia