Overview

• AstraZeneca secured an exclusive license to develop and, if approved, sell AI‑discovered CRISPR therapies for immune‑system disorders from Algen Biotechnologies.
• The agreement includes an upfront payment and milestones totaling up to $555 million, with no equity stake taken in Algen.
• Algen’s AlgenBrain platform maps genes to disease outcomes to prioritize targets for preclinical programs.
• Algen spun out of a UC Berkeley lab associated with Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna, who is reported to advise the company.
• The deal extends AstraZeneca’s push in cell and gene therapy, even as AI‑originated drug candidates have yet to win regulatory approval.