Almirall Selects 2nd Dermatology Target in AI Drug Discovery Collaboration with Absci

An artificial intelligence (AI) drug discovery collaboration that launched in November 2023 between Almirall and Absci is being expanded, with Almirall’s selection of a second target aimed at dermatological indications (1).

An Aug. 7, 2025 press release said that the first target identified in the partnership yielded successful delivery of AI-designed, functional antibody leads.

Breakthroughs for debilitating conditions

In the collaboration, Absci’s platform, Integrated Drug Creation, is being combined with Almirall’s expertise in the field of dermatology to accelerate development of novel, breakthrough therapeutics for certain skin diseases that may be chronic or debilitating (1).

Almirall is headquartered in Barcelona, while Absci has headquarters in Vancouver, Wash., in the United States, with an AI research lab in New York City and an innovation center in Switzerland.

Execs applaud new development

“Using advanced AI capabilities to design therapeutic candidates against historically challenging disease targets is a highly promising approach and Absci’s de-novo AI platform capabilities have already demonstrated early success,” said Karl Ziegelbauer, PhD, chief scientific officer at Almirall, in the press release (1). “We are pleased to expand our collaboration as we continue to harness AI to help us develop innovative treatments for patients living with severe skin conditions.”

“The progress in our collaboration is a testament that AI de-novo drug design is a successful approach to unlock novel biology where traditional drug discovery approaches have failed,” said Sean McClain, founder and CEO of Absci, in the release (1). “We’re proud of this milestone and excited to deepen our collaboration with Almirall with the goal of bringing a new generation of AI-created therapeutics for dermatology patients.”

AI’s expansion across industry

The rapid rise of AI has engendered change in numerous areas of the biopharmaceutical industry. FDA’s Innovative Science and Technology Approaches for New Drugs (ISTAND) pilot program was recently transitioned to a permanent drug discovery tool qualification program based in part on a group of eight accepted submissions, among which were three AI-based tools (2). The European Medicines Agency said in July 2025 that it is encouraging the use of new approach methodologies, which often utilize AI and machine learning, as an alternative to animal testing in the assessment of safety and efficacy of new medicines during non-clinical development (3).

Like Almirall and Absci, other companies are also aligning with the intention of leveraging AI platforms and technologies. In June 2025, AstraZeneca entered into a strategic research collaboration with CSPC Pharmaceuticals Group to advance discovery and development of novel oral candidates for multiple high-priority targets, with CSPC tasked with conducting research at its Shijiazhuang City, China, campus using its AI-driven, dual-engine efficient drug discovery platform (4).

Another, more expansive partnership was announced in July, uniting Proteros biostructures, Qanatpharma, Zuse Institute Berlin (ZIB), and Enamine, with the goal of combining innovations from all four partners—notably, ZIB’s AI-based generative ligand design—to accelerate discovery of novel therapeutics targeting cerebral perfusion deficits associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage (5).

Over the course of its collaboration with Almirall, Absci is eligible to receive approximately $650 million in upfront, R&D, or post-approval milestone payments tied to the preclinical and clinical development programs of therapeutic candidates designed and validated by its generative AI platform and wet lab capabilities (1). Absci is also entitled to royalties from potential product sales.

References

1. Almirall. Almirall and Absci Expand AI Drug Creation Collaboration adding a Second Dermatology Target. Press Release. Aug. 7, 2025.
2. Buckman-Garner, S.; Thanh Hai, M. FDA Advances Drug Development Innovation by Establishing ISTAND as Permanent Qualification Program. FDA Voices. FDA.gov, July 31, 2025 (accessed Aug. 4, 2025).
3. Barton, C. EMA Encourages Use of New Approach Methodologies to Reduce Animal Testing. PharmTech.com, July 28, 2025.
4. AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca Enters Strategic Collaboration with CSPC Pharmaceuticals Focused on AI-Enabled Research. Press Release. June 13, 2025.
5. Proteros biostructures. Qanatpharma, Zuse Institute Berlin, Enamine, and Proteros biostructures Announce Generative-AI Driven Lead Discovery Collaboration. Press Release. July 9, 2025.