Eli Lilly invested $40 million（約64億円） in Absci, an AI drug discovery startup, as part of a $100 million（約160億円） funding round that closed after positive Phase 1 safety data on ABS-201, an AI-designed injectable antibody for hair loss and endometriosis. The deal reflects a shift in pharma's approach to drug development: AI tools are becoming cheaper and more widely available, so the real leverage for companies like Absci lies in owning the drug itself rather than licensing the AI technology, combined with lower-cost clinical trials in China.
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Eli Lilly led a $100 million（約160億円） stock offering in Absci, an AI drug company, investing $40 million（約64億円） itself. Absci designed ABS-201, an injectable antibody targeting hair loss and endometriosis, using generative AI. The deal closed the same day Absci released positive Phase 1 safety data.
Why it matters
Lilly is betting that AI-designed drugs can succeed where traditional approaches haven't—no approved injectable antibody currently treats either condition ABS-201 targets. The deal signals confidence in Absci's strategy to use AI plus lower-cost clinical trials in China to compress development costs from $150 million（約240億円） to $15–$20 million（約32億円）, potentially reshaping drug economics.
What to watch
Absci's broader ambition is to eventually combine ABS-201 with a GLP-1 compound (used for weight loss) into a single shot. The injectable market is projected to be a $650 billion（約100兆円） opportunity in 2026, with GLP-1s alone projected to hit $190–$200 billion（約32兆円） by 2030. Whether ABS-201 becomes the first AI-designed antibody to prove efficacy in humans remains unknown.
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