TLDR: Chugai Pharmaceutical, majority-owned by Roche, has entered a research collaboration with AI biotech firm Gero, potentially valued at over $1 billion, to discover novel therapeutic targets for age-related diseases. The partnership leverages Gero’s advanced AI platform to identify targets, with Chugai focusing on developing antibody-based drugs, marking a significant move into the longevity sector.
Tokyo-based Chugai Pharmaceutical, a prominent unit majority-owned by Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche, has announced a significant research collaboration with Singapore-based AI-driven biotech company Gero. This strategic partnership, unveiled on July 7, 2025, is focused on pioneering the discovery of novel therapeutic targets for age-related diseases and could be worth more than $1 billion.
The collaboration grants Chugai exclusive worldwide rights to any drug candidates developed through this initiative. The core of the partnership lies in Chugai gaining access to Gero’s sophisticated artificial intelligence target discovery platform. This platform utilizes predictive models of human health, trained on extensive longitudinal medical records, to identify the underlying biological processes that drive age-related conditions.
Following the identification of these novel targets by Gero’s AI, Chugai will leverage its in-house engineering capabilities to develop innovative antibody drug candidates. While specific indications for targeting were not disclosed, Gero’s overarching mission is to eliminate the ‘root causes of age-related diseases,’ aiming to translate scientific insights into therapeutics that can restore lost biological function.
Financially, the deal includes an undisclosed upfront payment from Chugai to Gero. Additionally, Gero stands to receive approximately $250 million upon the achievement of certain unannounced development or sales milestones. Should Chugai successfully launch a product stemming from this collaboration, Gero will also receive additional royalties, which could push the total value of the agreement beyond the $1 billion mark, according to a Chugai representative.
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Peter Fedichev, CEO of Gero, emphasized the potential of their technology, stating, ‘Our AI platform is built to identify therapeutic targets that drive multiple age-related diseases and potentially aging itself. In this collaboration, we aim to translate those insights into therapeutics that can help restore the lost function. This partnership with Chugai is an important step toward achieving Gero’s mission: to meaningfully target the biological processes of human aging.’ This collaboration builds on Gero’s prior success, including a deal with Pfizer in January 2023 to apply its AI platform to fibrotic diseases.
