Absci Collaborates with AMD for $20 Million AI Drug Discovery Partnership

Deal News | Jan 10, 2025 | Goodwin

Absci Corporation has entered a strategic partnership with AMD, which includes a $20 million investment to enhance AI capabilities in drug discovery. The collaboration will focus on utilizing AMD's Instinct accelerators and ROCm software to improve Absci's de novo antibody design efforts. This endeavor reflects the increasing demand for AI applications in the pharmaceutical industry, aiming at delivering better biologics in a more efficient manner. The agreement involves Absci transferring its AI development tasks to AMD GPUs, contingent on performance and cost criteria, as per their memorandum of understanding. Absci, noted for its data-centric generative AI drug creation platform, combines AI with laboratory technologies to optimize drug characteristics essential for expedited clinical success. Based in Vancouver, Washington, with research facilities in New York and Switzerland, Absci empowers the AI drug creation process through advanced technologies and strategic partnerships.

Sectors

  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Technology

Geography

  • United States – Absci is headquartered in Vancouver, WA, and their AI Research Lab is located in New York City.
  • Switzerland – Absci has an Innovation Center in Zug, Switzerland, indicating international operations.

Industry

  • Pharmaceuticals – The article involves companies working in drug discovery and biologics creation, highlighting the impact of AI in pharmaceuticals.
  • Technology – The collaboration involves the deployment of AMD's advanced technology solutions to enhance AI modeling in drug discovery.

Financials

  • $20 million – The financial investment made by AMD in Absci as part of the strategic collaboration.

Participants

NameRoleTypeDescription
Absci CorporationTarget CompanyCompanyA generative AI drug creation company focused on biologics.
AMDBidding Company/InvestorCompanyAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc., investing to enhance AI drug discovery capabilities.
GoodwinLegal AdvisorCompanyProvided legal advisory for the collaboration between Absci and AMD.
Marianne SarrazinDeal TeamPersonLed the deal team for the collaboration.
Evan LeeDeal TeamPersonPart of the team leading the transaction.
Maggie WongDeal TeamPersonPart of the team facilitating the agreement.
Kingsley TaftDeal TeamPersonContributed to the negotiations.