SHERIDAN, WYOMING – July 8, 2025 – In a landmark agreement that underscores the growing convergence of artificial intelligence and drug discovery, Tokyo-based Chugai Pharmaceutical has entered into a multi-phase research collaboration with Singapore-headquartered biotech Gero to target age-related diseases using AI-driven insights. The deal could exceed $1 billion in total value, positioning both companies at the forefront of longevity-focused pharmaceutical innovation.
AI-Powered Discovery for High-Impact Biologics
Chugai, majority-owned by Roche, will leverage Gero’s proprietary AI target discovery platform to identify novel biological targets linked to aging-related conditions. Based on these targets, Chugai will engineer antibody-based drug candidates using its advanced internal capabilities.
Gero’s technology is built on predictive models trained on longitudinal medical records, aiming to reveal the underlying mechanisms of human aging. As part of the agreement, Chugai receives exclusive global rights to any drug candidates resulting from the collaboration.
Peter Fedichev, CEO of Gero, stated: “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.”
A Deal Structure Aligned with Long-Term Commercialization
Financial terms of the deal include an undisclosed upfront payment and up to $250 million in development and sales milestones. If Chugai successfully commercializes a drug, Gero stands to receive additional royalties, potentially pushing the full value of the partnership beyond the $1 billion mark.
The companies have not disclosed which specific age-related indications they plan to target. However, the collaboration aligns with Gero’s broader mission to tackle the root causes of aging itself, rather than focusing solely on symptomatic treatment.
Chugai Deepens Its Investment in AI for Drug Development
This is not Chugai’s first move into the AI space. The pharmaceutical firm has steadily built strategic alliances with technology companies over the past decade. In 2018, it partnered with deep learning firm Preferred Networks, investing approximately ¥700 million (around $5 million) to gain access to its platform. Earlier this year, Chugai partnered with SoftBank to integrate generative AI into clinical trial processes, aiming to reduce both time and cost through digital innovation.
These initiatives signal Chugai’s continued focus on embedding advanced computational tools across the drug development pipeline to drive faster, more efficient R&D outcomes.
Building Momentum in AI-Driven Therapeutics
While Gero remains an early-stage biotech—it raised a $6 million Series A round in 2023 and does not yet have a published drug pipeline—the company has steadily gained credibility through its AI partnerships. In January 2023, Gero signed a separate deal with Pfizer to apply its platform to fibrotic disease target discovery, signaling a growing interest in its approach among major pharmaceutical players.
By joining forces with Chugai, Gero now steps into a broader application of its technology, with the potential to reshape therapeutic strategies for one of healthcare’s most complex frontiers: aging.
Learn more at https://www.gero.ai