Boston – Dec 17, 2024
Strategic Expansion Following $120M Series B
Terray Therapeutics is closing the year with momentum, securing a research collaboration with Gilead Sciences just months after raising $120 million in Series B funding.
AI-Driven tNova Platform Enhancing Drug Discovery
The partnership grants Gilead access to tNova, Terray’s generative AI platform designed to accelerate drug discovery by enhancing speed, efficiency, and success rates. Over the past three years, Terray has analyzed more than 5 billion target-ligand interactions, significantly surpassing publicly available chemistry datasets. This proprietary capability played a key role in attracting both investors and industry partners.
Collaboration Terms and Potential Impact
Under the agreement, Gilead will utilize tNova to identify and develop small-molecule compounds targeting specific disease areas. While financial details remain undisclosed, Terray will receive an upfront payment and could earn milestone-based incentives tied to successful development and commercialization. If Gilead exercises its licensing option, it will take full responsibility for advancing the compounds to market.
Gilead’s Perspective on AI in Drug Discovery
Dr. Flavius Martin, Executive Vice President of Research at Gilead, highlighted the importance of AI in modern drug development, stating:
“Next-generation, AI-driven platforms using large, high-quality datasets will be instrumental in advancing innovative treatments across our key therapeutic areas.”
Terray’s Growing Network of Industry Partners
This collaboration places Gilead alongside Bristol Myers Squibb and Alphabet’s Calico, both of whom have also partnered with Terray. The growing industry interest underscores the value of AI-driven platforms in streamlining drug discovery.
Gilead’s R&D Strategy Amid Recent Challenges
The partnership comes as Gilead seeks to optimize its R&D pipeline following setbacks in MASH drug development and the discontinuation of magrolimab, an anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody acquired in a $4.9 billion deal. In response to these challenges, Gilead has implemented workforce reductions and site closures to recalibrate its research priorities.
Harnessing AI for Next-Generation Therapeutics
By combining AI-driven insights with internal expertise, Gilead aims to strengthen its drug discovery pipeline and advance small-molecule therapeutics. The partnership with Terray signals a continued shift toward leveraging AI to overcome traditional drug development barriers and drive next-generation innovation.
About Terray Therapeutics
About Terray Therapeutics
Terray is an AI-powered biotechnology company with the technology, data, and mindset to radically change the way we discover and develop small molecule therapeutics. The company explores molecules and targets with a sophisticated integration of ultra-high throughput experimentation, generative AI, biology, medicinal chemistry, automation, and nanotechnology. Terray’s platform uniquely blends experimentation and computation to deliver on the promise of generative AI for small molecule discovery—finding solutions to the toughest therapeutic challenges. More about news
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