Ventus Therapeutics Teams Up with Genentech for AI-Driven Drug Discovery Collaboration

Ventus Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has announced a multi-year collaboration with Genentech, part of the Roche Group, to discover and optimize novel small-molecule candidates for difficult-to-target diseases using Ventus’ proprietary ReSOLVE® drug discovery platform.

ReSOLVE® integrates artificial intelligence, machine learning, protein science, structural biology, and biophysics to model dynamic water networks in protein pockets. Its hydrocophore® output aids in lead identification and optimization, significantly reducing the time and cost of traditional drug discovery.

“ReSOLVE® uniquely models the structure of water in motion to better understand protein structures, thereby shortening the drug discovery timeline and accelerating patient benefit,” said Dr. Michael Crackower, Chief Scientific Officer of Ventus. He added that partnering with Genentech, a leader in drug discovery, will help advance breakthrough medicines.

Under the agreement, Ventus will use ReSOLVE® for virtual screening and lead identification of novel small molecules, while Genentech will handle preclinical development, clinical trials, and commercialization. Ventus may also support additional discovery programs at Genentech. The deal includes an upfront payment to Ventus and potential preclinical, development, and commercial milestones exceeding $460 million, plus tiered royalties on net sales.

“Collaborating with biotech companies such as Ventus, which brings a unique computational approach to drug discovery, has the potential to generate innovative medicines for long-standing challenging targets,” said Boris L. Zaïtra, Head of Roche Corporate Business Development.

This partnership highlights the growing role of AI-driven technologies in accelerating the development of novel therapies for complex diseases.