Key Insights
- AI Meets Biologics: BigHat’s ML-guided Milliner™ platform joins forces with Lilly’s discovery engine to accelerate two next-gen antibody programs.
- Therapeutics with an Edge: Focus on enhanced antibody functionality and improved biophysical properties to better treat chronic diseases.
- Strategic and Financial Backing: Supported by Lilly’s Catalyze360™ model, the partnership includes equity investment and pipeline advancement, including BigHat’s ADC for GI cancers.
AI-Driven Discovery: BigHat’s Milliner™ Platform Sets New Standards
At the core of this collaboration is BigHat’s proprietary Milliner™ platform, which integrates state-of-the-art machine learning models with a high-speed synthetic biology-based wet lab. The platform iteratively designs, builds, and tests therapeutic antibodies, allowing for rapid refinement and optimization. By enabling more efficient molecular engineering, Milliner™ addresses longstanding challenges in biologics development—offering high-quality candidates with superior specificity, stability, and efficacy.
Lilly Collaboration: A Two-Program Deal with Global Ambitions
BigHat and Eli Lilly and Company will jointly develop up to two antibody therapeutic programs targeting chronic diseases. By combining Lilly’s drug discovery scale with BigHat’s AI capabilities, the partners aim to accelerate antibody design and engineering with a focus on functional enhancements. The collaboration reflects Lilly’s growing commitment to integrate AI into drug development and validates BigHat’s rising leadership in AI-first biologics.
Beyond the Bench: BigHat’s Expanding Proprietary Pipeline
While partnering with Lilly, BigHat remains focused on its internal pipeline, advancing next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and T-cell engagers (TCEs). These programs span oncology and immunology, including a next-gen ADC for GI cancers expected to enter the clinic by 2026. With full global rights retained, BigHat’s ADC initiative positions the company as a rising innovator in therapeutic antibody engineering.
Catalyze360™: Lilly’s Model to Fuel Early-Stage Innovation
This collaboration is further backed by Lilly Catalyze360™, a platform designed to support biotech startups across therapeutic areas. Through equity investment, access to drug development expertise, and operational support, Lilly reinforces its role as a strategic enabler of AI-driven innovation. For BigHat, the partnership opens doors to clinical development pathways while maintaining independence over key assets.
About BigHat Biosciences
BigHat Biosciences is a biotechnology company pioneering a new generation of therapeutic antibodies using its proprietary AI/ML-powered Milliner™ platform. By seamlessly integrating machine learning with a high-speed synthetic biology lab, BigHat accelerates the design, engineering, and optimization of high-performance antibodies with improved functionality and biophysical properties. Focused on transforming treatment for chronic and complex diseases, BigHat partners with leading biopharma companies while advancing a robust internal pipeline across oncology and immunology.
For more information, visit their official website: Big Hat Biosciences
By