SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — September 16, 2026
Twist Bioscience Corporation announced an agreement with Lilly TuneLab, the collaborative AI/ML drug discovery platform created by Eli Lilly and Company, to provide antibody characterization data services that support TuneLab’s drug discovery models. Twist will provide experimental data for TuneLab, including its AbLab antibody developability prediction model, creating a connection between high-throughput laboratory characterization and AI-driven candidate selection. The collaboration is designed to help researchers generate consistent wet-lab datasets that can be used alongside predictive models to evaluate antibody sequences and accelerate the process of identifying potential drug candidates. By integrating Twist’s antibody characterization capabilities with TuneLab’s AI/ML infrastructure, the arrangement establishes a data-driven workflow intended to improve efficiency in early-stage antibody discovery.
Twist Data Supports TuneLab Antibody Models
The collaboration centers on generating high-quality antibody characterization data using Twist’s established laboratory capabilities and TuneLab-preferred protocols. Researchers participating in TuneLab will be able to order antibody services from Twist under designated protocols and preferred pricing, allowing experimental results to complement AI-based predictions. Twist’s high-throughput infrastructure is designed to generate antibody data at scale, supporting the development and refinement of models that can help researchers down-select candidate molecules more efficiently. The approach reflects the growing integration of computational modeling and experimental biology in therapeutic discovery, where predictive models can help narrow large numbers of potential sequences before additional laboratory testing. Twist said the resulting data can also contribute back to TuneLab through federated training, supporting an ecosystem in which experimental characterization and AI-enabled discovery are connected.
Lilly TuneLab Builds Collaborative Drug Discovery Ecosystem
Lilly TuneLab was established to give participating biotechnology companies access to AI/ML drug discovery models trained using decades of Lilly’s proprietary research data. The platform is intended to help companies apply predictive capabilities to their own discovery programs while contributing to a broader collaborative innovation ecosystem. The Twist agreement adds specialized antibody characterization and developability data to this model-driven environment, creating an additional pathway for experimental datasets to support AI-enabled research. TuneLab forms part of Lilly Catalyze360, alongside Lilly Ventures, Lilly Gateway Labs and Lilly ExploR&D, which collectively provide biotechnology companies with access to strategic capital, laboratory infrastructure, technology and research capabilities. The expanding network illustrates how large pharmaceutical companies and specialized technology providers are building connected discovery ecosystems to support external innovation and potentially shorten early drug-development timelines.
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Twist Strengthens Position in Data-Driven Biologics Discovery
The TuneLab agreement strengthens Twist Bioscience’s role at the intersection of antibody engineering, high-throughput experimentation and computational drug discovery. Twist provides biological solutions spanning oligos, genes, proteins, libraries, antibody discovery and characterization data, supporting applications across therapeutics, diagnostics, research and other life-science markets. Its ability to generate standardized characterization data at scale complements the increasing use of AI models for sequence evaluation and molecular developability assessment. For TuneLab users, the collaboration provides access to a laboratory pathway for generating data under preferred protocols, while for Twist it expands the potential application of its antibody services within an AI-enabled discovery ecosystem. The combination of experimental antibody data and predictive AI models highlights a broader industry shift toward integrated computational and laboratory workflows for accelerating biologics research and candidate selection.
Source:Adagio Medical, press release
