United Kingdom, October 6, 2025: AstraZeneca has entered into a licensing agreement worth up to $555 million with Algen Biotechnologies, a U.S.-based biotech firm that leverages artificial intelligence for gene-editing discoveries.
Under the deal, AstraZeneca will gain exclusive rights to develop and commercialize therapies discovered through Algen’s AI-driven platform, specifically targeting immune-related disorders. In return, Algen will receive upfront and milestone-based payments, though AstraZeneca will not take an equity stake in the company, according to Algen’s CEO and co-founder, Chun-Hao Huang.
The move highlights AstraZeneca’s growing focus on cell and gene therapy, as well as its broader strategy of expanding through acquisitions and strategic collaborations. The company is aiming to hit $80 billion in sales by 2030, with a particular emphasis on innovative therapies.
Immune-related medicines already play a significant role in AstraZeneca’s portfolio. Its respiratory and immunology division generated $4.23 billion in revenue during the first half of 2025, representing about 15% of total company sales.
This agreement follows other recent deals in the sector. In March, AstraZeneca acquired Belgian biotech EsoBiotec in a transaction valued at up to $1 billion, securing access to technology that enables immune cell modification directly inside the body.
Pharmaceutical giants worldwide are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to accelerate drug discovery and development, with this latest partnership positioning AstraZeneca at the forefront of the trend.
In an interview by Reuters, Huang said: "Together with AstraZeneca's deep expertise in translational science and clinical development, we aim to uncover new biological insights to accelerate the development of novel therapies,"
The company, backed by investors including Viking Global and Illumina, has raised $11 million in funding previously and is "well capitalized", Huang said, adding that the firm would consider scaling its programs at the next fundraise, without giving details.
Algen originated from a University of California, Berkeley laboratory, the same research environment where Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna advanced CRISPR gene-editing technology. The company has since developed AlgenBrain, its proprietary AI platform, which links genetic variations to disease pathways. This capability allows Algen and its partners to strategically identify and prioritize targets for new therapies.
The partnership reflects AstraZeneca’s ambition to harness cutting-edge AI platforms for the next wave of immune therapies. With Algen’s AI-driven discovery engine and AstraZeneca’s clinical expertise, the collaboration could mark a significant step in shaping the future of precision medicine.
