UCB brings Cradle's AI protein design platform into its antibody discovery projects
The companies say the platform will run from hit generation to preclinical readiness, with lab results retraining project models; no financial terms or target diseases were disclosed.
Why it matters
Drugmakers are moving AI from one-off experiments into the core of discovery, and this deal puts Cradle's system across selected UCB projects rather than a single programme. UCB, which reported 7.7 billion euros of revenue in 2025, calls AI a scientific force multiplier, and Cradle describes the set-up as a lab-in-the-loop in which each round of wet-lab data retrains the models. It follows similar platform deals across pharma this week. Watch for the first named candidate and any disclosure of how much faster designs reach the clinic.
Key facts
- Announced 4 November 2026 in Brussels and Amsterdam
- Covers hit generation through preclinical readiness
- Lab results retrain program-specific models
- No financial terms disclosed
- UCB revenue: 7.7 billion euros in 2025