METiS TechBio (7666.HK), the innovator in AI-powered drug delivery, today announced a strategic collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company ("Lilly") focused on the research and discovery of novel lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based delivery solutions designed to enable tissue-specific delivery of therapeutic modalities.
Under the agreement, METiS will leverage its proprietary, AI-driven ionizable lipid discovery and optimization platform, AiLNP, to develop next-generation delivery technologies with the potential to improve targeting and biodistribution of LNP-based delivery. Lilly will contribute its expertise in drug discovery, development, and commercialization to support the advancement of the collaboration.
Under the terms of the agreement, METiS TechBio will be eligible to receive an upfront payment in the low double-digit millions of U.S. dollars, and up to approximately US$1.1 billion in development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments. In addition, METiS TechBio will be eligible to receive single-digit tiered royalties based on annual net sales of products resulting from the collaboration.
Lipid nanoparticles have emerged as a powerful modality for enabling the delivery of therapeutic payloads to target tissues and cells. By combining METiS' capabilities in generative and predictive AI for rational LNP design and optimization with Lilly's scientific and development expertise, the companies aim to discover and optimize novel LNP architectures that may enable improved tissue specificity, enhanced therapeutic performance, and broader applicability across multiple disease areas.
"Delivery remains a critical determinant of therapeutic success, particularly as the industry expands into increasingly sophisticated modalities," said Chris Lai, Chairman and CEO of METiS TechBio. "We are excited to collaborate with Lilly, a global leader in the discovery and development of innovative medicines. By combining METiS' AI-powered platform with Lilly's scientific expertise and development capabilities, we aim to unlock a new generation of tissue-targeted delivery technologies that have the potential to transform how medicines reach patients."
Molecule Generation by PhatGPT, a Lipid Generative Model
