AstraZeneca signs $1.5 billion AI drug-discovery deal

AstraZeneca and AI biotech insitro have agreed to use insitro’s Virtual Human platform to identify disease biology and potential drug targets for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, a serious liver disease, and cardiomyopathies. Insitro will advance AstraZeneca-nominated targets from discovery toward development candidates, while AstraZeneca will lead subsequent clinical development and hold exclusive worldwide rights to selected programs. The deal includes a $40 million upfront payment to insitro, up to about $1.46 billion in potential development and commercial milestones, and possible single-digit royalties on sales.