UCB and University of Southampton announce DARC: a pioneering partnership to develop digital antibodies with AI
• Digital Antibody Research Collaboration (DARC) between UCB and the University of Southampton will contribute to the delivery of an end-to-end, in-silico antibody design platform to accelerate and enhance therapeutic antibody discovery
• DARC significantly expands UCB’s scientific relationship with the University of Southampton
• Academic collaboration strengthens UCB’s investment in UK science and technology and advances digital antibody engineering
Slough, UK, 27 April 2026: UCB, a global biopharmaceutical company, and the University of Southampton announce DARC – the Digital Antibody Research Collaboration. This forward-thinking initiative is focused on developing an end-to-end platform for the in-silico design of therapeutic antibodies, aiming to transform the future of drug discovery and development.
The DARC project represents a step towards the future of digital antibody engineering. By combining UCB’s deep expertise in drug discovery with the University of Southampton’s leading computational chemistry research, the collaboration seeks to rapidly develop, implement, test and apply cutting-edge technologies to assist the delivery of a best-in-class antibody computational platform to enable end-to-end computationally designed antibodies.
Creation of a platform like this will speed up the design, development and testing of molecules ready for clinical trials, helping to reduce the current ten to 12 years taken to deliver a treatment.
Dr Stevan Shaw, Head of UK Research, UCB said: “At UCB we are committed to harnessing the power of data and digital innovation to transform biologics discovery. Our partnership with the University of Southampton strengthens our position at the forefront of AI-enabled antibody design, reinforcing our dedication to scientific excellence and collaboration.”
DARC represents a significant expansion of the longstanding scientific relationship between UCB and the University of Southampton, which has spanned multiple projects in computational chemistry, small molecule design, and antibody formulation. The new three-year initiative will combine UCB’s expertise in digital antibody development with the University of Southampton’s world-class capabilities in simulation and computational methodology.
The programme will be conducted in partnership with the University of Southampton’s Professor Jonathan Essex, a world renowned expert in molecular simulation and computational chemistry. Under his leadership, the University’s Computational Systems Chemistry Group has established itself as a centre of excellence in both classical simulations and AI-driven molecular design. The University of Southampton is widely acknowledged as a leader in computational research, offering advanced training courses dedicated to artificial intelligence and digital chemistry.
Professor Jonathan Essex, University of Southampton, said: “The UK excels in innovation, research and development, and innovative companies, like UCB, working together with research-intensive universities play an important role in contributing to economic growth and medical breakthroughs. This partnership is a testament to the strength and vibrancy of the UK’s life sciences landscape.”
Since 2004 UCB has invested approximately £250 million into the UK research ecosystem including early-stage research collaborations with academia, charities, other pharmaceutical companies and the NHS, as well as supporting more than 200 PhDs.
