Roche × Manifold Bio
Roche entered a strategic research and licensing agreement with Manifold Bio to develop new methods for delivering drugs across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). [45, 55] The deal gives Roche access to Manifold's AI-guided platform, which tests thousands of biologic variants directly in vivo to generate physiologically relevant data at scale. [55] Manifold will receive a $55 million upfront payment, with the potential for over $2 billion in total milestones, plus tiered royalties. [45, 59, 65]
The asset
A license to Manifold's AI-driven in vivo discovery engine (mDesign) and its proprietary tissue-targeting shuttle portfolio to create multiple next-generation blood-brain barrier (BBB) shuttles for neurological diseases. [45, 55, 65]
The record
- Seller status
- Going concern
- Sector
- AI drug discovery
- Modalities
- AI platform, in vivo data
- Jurisdiction
- US
What it means if you hold data
This partnership targets a critical bottleneck in neurology: getting drugs into the brain. [55] It validates Manifold's novel 'direct-to-vivo' discovery approach, where AI models are trained on data from large-scale experiments in living systems, aiming to improve the translation of preclinical assets into effective medicines. [45, 65]
Sources
- manifold.bio — https://www.manifold.bio/news/manifold-bio-announces-strategic-collaboration-with-roche-to-develop-multiple-next-generation-brain-shuttles-for-neurological-diseases
- contractpharma.com — https://www.contractpharma.com/contents/view_breaking-news/2025-11-03/roche-manifold-bio-sign-2b-deal-to-develop-next-gen-brain-shuttles/