AstraZeneca Teams Up with AI Firm to Develop Cancer Drug

The offices of British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca PLC in Macclesfield, England, on July 21, 2020. (Paul Ellis/AFP)
The offices of British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca PLC in Macclesfield, England, on July 21, 2020. (Paul Ellis/AFP)
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AstraZeneca Teams Up with AI Firm to Develop Cancer Drug

The offices of British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca PLC in Macclesfield, England, on July 21, 2020. (Paul Ellis/AFP)
The offices of British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca PLC in Macclesfield, England, on July 21, 2020. (Paul Ellis/AFP)

Anglo-Swedish drug maker AstraZeneca has signed a deal worth up to $247 million with US artificial intelligence (AI) biologics firm Absci to design an antibody to fight cancer, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.

The collaboration aims to harness Absci's AI technology for large-scale protein analysis to find a viable oncology therapy, a leading focus of AstraZeneca, the report said. It did not say what kind of cancer they plan to target.

Absci and AstraZeneca did not immediately respond to a Reuters requests for comment.

The deal includes an upfront fee for Absci, research and development funding and milestone payments, as well as royalties on any product sales, the newspaper said.

Sean McClain, Absci’s founder and chief executive, was quoted as saying the application of engineering principles to drug discovery improved the potential of success and reduced time spent in development.

Absci applies generative artificial intelligence to design optimal drug candidates based on target affinity, safety, manufacturability and other traits.



Red Sea Labs Launches Directors Program to Empower Emerging Filmmakers

This initiative reflects the Red Sea Film Foundation’s commitment - through Red Sea Labs - to empowering creative voices
This initiative reflects the Red Sea Film Foundation’s commitment - through Red Sea Labs - to empowering creative voices
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Red Sea Labs Launches Directors Program to Empower Emerging Filmmakers

This initiative reflects the Red Sea Film Foundation’s commitment - through Red Sea Labs - to empowering creative voices
This initiative reflects the Red Sea Film Foundation’s commitment - through Red Sea Labs - to empowering creative voices

Red Sea Labs, a Red Sea Film Foundation program, has launched the Directors’ Program – a transformative, week-long learning experience taking place in Jeddah from April 29 to May 3, and bringing together 15 emerging filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Asia, and Africa for an intensive exploration of the art of directing.

"The Directors’ Program marks a bold step forward for the Labs in our mission to nurture regional talent and connect them with the global filmmaking community,” head of Red Sea Labs Ryan Ashore was quoted as saying in a statement.

This initiative, said the statement, reflects the Red Sea Film Foundation’s commitment - through Red Sea Labs - to empowering creative voices by facilitating direct engagement with leading international filmmakers, and by equipping participants with the professional tools and creative guidance required to advance their careers.