Bayer and Iambic collaborate to advance drug discovery with AI
Bayer and Iambic collaborate to advance drug discovery with AI
- Collaboration focuses on small molecule discovery
- Bayer to leverage Iambic’s AI platform to address hard-to-drug targets
- Collaboration will strengthen Bayer’s research and development portfolio by harnessing AI to accelerate drug discovery
Berlin, Germany and San Diego, USA, June 22, 2026 – Bayer and Iambic Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage life science and technology company developing novel medicines using its AI-driven platform, today announced a drug discovery collaboration in which Bayer will discover new medicines using Iambic’s AI-driven platform. The collaboration is focused on small molecule discovery.
The collaboration will leverage Iambic’s AI-driven drug discovery platform, including its flagship AI technologies, Enchant & NeuralPLexer, to identify novel drug entry points and differentiated molecules to address otherwise hard-to-drug targets that will enhance Bayer’s early portfolio.
“This collaboration exemplifies our shared ambition to harness AI as a strategic driver of innovation in drug discovery and our focus on building high-impact collaborations that translate cutting-edge technology into patient value.” said Juergen Eckhardt, M.D., Head of Business Development and Licensing at Bayer Pharmaceuticals. “By collaborating with Iambic, we bring together complementary capabilities to accelerate scientific insights and improve decision-making across the R&D value chain.”
Traditional drug discovery takes 10-15 years and costs around USD 2.6 billion, yet more than 90 percent of candidates fail in clinical trials. By using AI-based molecular optimization, the collaboration aims to identify differentiated hit molecules, accelerate optimization timelines, and strengthen Bayer's pipeline ahead of the next decade.
“Iambic is proving that better technology leads to better medicines, both in our own hands and with visionary partners like Bayer,” said Tom Miller, PhD, Co-Founder and CEO, Iambic. “Through this collaboration, Bayer secures access to industry-leading technology, including Iambic’s frontier AI models Enchant and NeuralPLexer, and together we expand the universe of potential life-saving medicines.”
Under terms of the agreement Iambic will receive an upfront payment as well as milestone and royalty payments.
About Iambic
Iambic is proving that better technology leads to better medicines. By pioneering molecular superintelligence — integrating proprietary AI with automated, high-throughput experimentation — we are transforming how medicines are made. Our platform was validated by the discovery of a novel drug candidate advanced to clinic in about one-third industry-standard time, along with a diverse preclinical pipeline. Our leading AI technologies include Enchant and NeuralPLexer for multimodal endpoint prediction designed to improve the speed, precision, and success rates of drug discovery and clinical development. At Iambic, we are building the engine that will power the future of medicine. | iambic.ai
About Bayer
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, “Health for all, Hunger for none,” the company’s products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2025, the Group employed around 88,000 people and had sales of 45.6 billion euros. R&D expenses amounted to 5.8 billion euros. For more information, go to .www.bayer.com
