Emeryville, CA – November 12, 2025 – Octant, Inc. (“Octant”), a drug discovery company developing small molecule correctors for protein misfolding diseases, today announced a research collaboration and license agreement with Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) to discover and develop novel small molecule therapeutics to treat neurodegenerative diseases.
The collaboration will leverage Octant’s Navigator platform, integrating high-throughput synthetic biology, generative chemistry, and AI/ML, to engineer and optimize small molecules that address complex cellular mechanisms underlying disease. Octant will lead discovery and research activities, and Bristol Myers Squibb has exclusive worldwide rights to further develop and commercialize therapeutic candidates arising from the collaboration.
“Protein misfolding and mis-trafficking is a complex process that involves interactions across many cellular mechanisms. Octant’s platform has demonstrated the ability to build small molecules that help guide proteins through this delicate balance to treat some of the hardest problems in medicine,” said Sri Kosuri, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Octant. “We are excited to double down on our long-standing collaborative efforts with Bristol Myers Squibb, and combine our platform with the company’s world-class neuroscience research and development expertise to build high-impact medicines in areas with significant unmet medical need.”
Under the terms of the Agreement, Octant will receive a $15 million upfront payment and is eligible to receive development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments plus tiered royalties.
Octant is a small molecule drug discovery company developing correctors for protein misfolding diseases. Octant’s platform, The Navigator, combines high-throughput synthetic biology, generative chemistry, and AI/ML to discover and develop therapeutics against complex cellular mechanisms in human cells. Their pipeline is led by correctors programs for autosomal dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa (adRP) and Fabry Disease (FD) and includes several other programs across other rare diseases and oncology. For more information visit www.octant.bio.