Roche supports AI-powered brain drug breakthrough with $55M

Roche is partnering with Manifold Bio to use its AI-driven platform to develop “shuttles” that deliver medicines across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a major hurdle in treating neurological diseases.

Why it matters: The deal aims to unlock treatments for brain disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s by overcoming one of drug development’s toughest challenges: getting therapies safely into the brain.

Backstory: Manifold Bio uses AI to design and test molecules that can target specific tissues, including the brain. Unlike traditional lab methods, Manifold tests these shuttles in living systems, speeding up development. On the other side, Roche’s neuroscience activities look bright as sales hit $10.6B in 2024 (20% of its pharmaceutical sales), with 21 brain-related trials underway.

Big picture: AI-driven drug discovery has yet to deliver blockbuster successes, but deals like this reflect rising belief in its long-term value. Roche’s neuroscience pipeline is already robust, and Manifold’s tech could amplify its reach in treating age-related neurological diseases.

Zoom in: The agreement stipulates that Manifold leads shuttle discovery while Roche handles clinical development and commercialization. In keeping with this, Roche paid $55M upfront and is set to pay $2B in milestone payments if all goes well.