BigHat Biosciences, a biotechnology company leveraging machine learning (ML) to accelerate antibody discovery and development, announced a strategic research collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company. The partnership will utilize BigHat’s Milliner platform-a cutting-edge suite of ML technologies integrated with a high-throughput synthetic biology wet lab-to design and optimize therapeutic antibodies with enhanced functionality.
Under the terms of the agreement, BigHat and Lilly will work together to discover next-generation antibody therapeutics across up to two programs. The goal is to develop biologics with improved biophysical characteristics and therapeutic efficacy, aimed at addressing chronic diseases and improving patient outcomes.
“Partnering with Lilly represents an exciting opportunity to harness the full potential of AI-driven biologic design. By combining Lilly’s deep expertise in drug discovery and development with BigHat’s machine learning-powered Milliner platform, we can accelerate the advancement of truly differentiated, next-generation protein therapeutics,” said Peyton Greenside, CEO and Co-founder of BigHat.
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This collaboration aligns with BigHat’s strategic approach to forming high-impact partnerships while advancing its proprietary internal pipeline. BigHat is currently developing a portfolio of innovative therapies in oncology and immunology, including next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and functionally enhanced T-cell engagers (TCEs).
As part of its internal pipeline, BigHat plans to move a next-gen ADC for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers into clinical trials by 2026. The company will retain full global rights and control over this program, with additional support provided through Lilly’s Catalyze360™ initiative.
The collaboration underscores BigHat’s mission to overcome the limitations of traditional antibody engineering by integrating advanced ML tools into every stage of biologic drug development, ultimately delivering better therapeutics, faster.