Absci (ABSI) 44th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference summary

Key announcements and strategic direction

• Launched Origin-1, a generative AI model for de novo antibody design targeting zero prior epitopes, enabling pursuit of hard-to-drug targets like GPCRs and ion channels, and validated with atomic accuracy.

• Focused on diseases with high unmet medical need, aiming for first-in-class, category-creating therapies rather than me-too drugs.

• Origin-1 is applied to both clinical and early-stage pipelines, with expansion into bispecifics and next-generation programs underway.

• AMD partnership supports scaling compute for protein design; over 10 pharma partners are engaged, targeting challenging projects and leveraging AI and wet-lab integration.

• Balance sheet at over $143 million, providing runway into the first half of 2028 and supporting ongoing capability expansion.

Clinical and preclinical program insights

• ABS-201 targets androgenic alopecia and endometriosis, with two phase II readouts expected in the next 24 months.

• Phase I/II-A trial for androgenic alopecia underway, with safety readout in the first half and 13-week efficacy readout in the second half of this year; study completion expected early next year.

• Endometriosis trial for ABS-201 to start in Q4 this year, with phase II proof of concept readout a year later; ABS-201 leverages PRLR antagonism, showing reduced lesion formation and pain in preclinical models.

• ABS-101 for IBD demonstrated improved half-life and tissue penetration, now ready for partnering.

• ABS-101 and ABS-201 have reduced clinic entry time to two years and cost to $15 million, compared to traditional five-and-a-half years and $50–100 million.

Scientific and market insights

• ABS-201 blocks the prolactin receptor, reversing hair follicle miniaturization and promoting durable hair regrowth, as shown in animal and human ex vivo studies.

• Consumer research indicates high demand and willingness to pay a premium for ABS-201, with 97% of men and 88% of women likely to ask about it, and 37% of men and 36% of women considering it as first-line therapy.

• U.S. market for androgenic alopecia estimated at over $25 billion, with global potential exceeding $40 billion; strong patient funnel and premium pricing opportunity.

• Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women in the U.S. (9 million patients), with ABS-201 offering a differentiated, non-hormonal treatment and blockbuster sales potential over $4.5 billion.

• Origin-1 enables design against targets with no known binders, differentiating from competitors and expanding the druggable space.