Chai Discovery Partners with Bristol Myers Squibb for AI-Driven Antibody Discovery

Chai Discovery, an AI firm focused on developing a computer-aided design suite for molecules, has announced a partnership with Bristol Myers Squibb aimed at accelerating the discovery of therapeutic antibodies using artificial intelligence. “By combining Chai’s advanced AI models with Bristol Myers Squibb’s deep therapeutic expertise, we hope to rapidly accelerate the timeline from concept to viable therapeutic candidates,” stated Joshua Meier, co-founder and CEO of Chai Discovery.

As part of this collaboration, Bristol Myers Squibb will utilize Chai’s advanced AI models and platform capabilities, which include cutting-edge molecular folding and design models, to enhance the identification of antibody candidates across its portfolio. This initiative is designed to support Bristol Myers Squibb's goal of establishing an AI-powered, continuously learning discovery system.

Chai Discovery harnesses AI to forecast and reprogram molecular interactions, enabling scientists to create new biomolecules with targeted properties. The company's innovative models expedite drug discovery by generating molecules based on specified criteria and shortening discovery cycles for targets that traditional methods have often found challenging to reach. “We’re thrilled to partner with Bristol Myers Squibb to deploy our technology, including toward diverse drug targets,” Meier added.

Bristol Myers Squibb marks the latest biopharmaceutical entity to collaborate with Chai Discovery, which aims to redefine the drug discovery process.

Chai Discovery envisions a future where new medicines are crafted with the precision, speed, and scale akin to modern engineering, rather than through trial and error. The firm’s models are built to analyze biological structures and functions, generate novel molecular designs from scratch, and assist pharmaceutical teams in pursuing challenging targets.

Founded in 2024 by Joshua Meier, Jack Dent, Matthew McPartlon, and Jacques Boitreaud, Chai Discovery is headquartered in San Francisco, California. The team, which boasts experience from OpenAI, Meta FAIR, Stripe, molecular design, and academic research, shares a unified vision: to apply the precision and predictability of engineering to one of science’s most complex challenges—developing better and faster therapeutics, especially for the most difficult 'undruggable' conditions.

Chai Discovery is supported by prominent investors, including Index Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia Capital, Dimension, Oak HC/FT, General Catalyst, OpenAI, Thrive Capital, and Menlo Ventures.