Merck is taking a deep dive into complex proteins with the help of artificial-intelligence-powered drug discovery company Absci. The two companies have signed a research collaboration for up to three targets in a deal worth up to $610 million in upfront fees and milestone payments.
Merck will use Absci’s Integrated Drug Creation platform, which uses AI and synthetic biology to find new drug targets and match them up with potential medicines. The company also generates cell lines to manufacture the therapeutic candidates, all in one process.
