Chai Discovery, an AI company developing a computer-aided design suite for molecules, is collaborating with Novartis to advance the discovery of therapeutic antibodies using AI
Under the collaboration, Novartis will gain access to Chai’s latest AI models, including Chai-3, to support its discovery of antibodies for therapeutic programs across multiple targets.
The agreement expands on over a year of technical engagement between the two companies, including early access to Chai’s next-generation folding model last spring. After tracking Chai’s progress in AI-driven molecular design over the past year, Novartis and Chai are extending their work together to support broader deployment across several therapeutic programs.
Chai Discover utilises AI to predict and reprogram molecular interactions, enabling scientists to design new biomolecules with specific properties. Chai’s AI models can accelerate drug discovery by generating molecules based on defined criteria and compressing discovery cycles.
Joshua Meier, co-founder and CEO of Chai Discovery, said, “We are delighted to be collaborating with Novartis in the discovery of new antibodies. This is a significant step forward in expanding the range of therapeutic programs that can benefit from AI-driven molecular design.”
Fiona Marshall, president of Biomedical Research at Novartis, said, “AI is already reshaping how we discover medicines. By applying advanced models to challenges like antibody design, we can explore a broader range of possibilities, make better decisions earlier, and focus our efforts on the most promising candidates. Our collaboration with Chai Discovery brings complementary expertise to tackle difficult targets and advance progress toward new options for patients.”
Chai Discovery’s collaboration with Novartis follows previously announced customer agreements with Pfizer and Eli Lilly. Financial terms of the agreement with Novartis are not being disclosed.
