AI-Powered Pipeline: Harbour BioMed & Evinova Team Up to Accelerate Biologics Development

Cambridge, MA/Rotterdam, Netherlands/Shanghai, China – November 7, 2025 – In a move signaling the growing integration of artificial intelligence within the biopharmaceutical sector, Harbour BioMed (HBM) and Evinova China have announced a strategic collaboration to accelerate the development of innovative biologics. The partnership aims to enhance efficiency throughout the R&D process, from initial discovery to clinical trials, leveraging Evinova’s digital health expertise and HBM’s proprietary antibody technology.

This collaboration isn’t occurring in a vacuum. The biopharmaceutical industry is facing increasing pressure to reduce drug development timelines and costs, a challenge that AI is increasingly seen as a key solution to. “The industry is recognizing that traditional methods are becoming unsustainable,” notes a digital transformation consultant working with several major pharma companies. “AI offers the potential to drastically reduce the time and expense associated with bringing new therapies to market.”

Harnessing AI Across the Value Chain

Under the agreement, Harbour BioMed and Evinova China will jointly apply AI and digital technologies to optimize biologics development. HBM will contribute its industry-leading Harbour Mice® technology platform – which generates fully human antibodies – while Evinova will deploy its AI-powered solutions for clinical trial optimization, real-world data integration, and predictive analytics.

“We believe that AI can significantly improve clinical study efficiency and accelerate the delivery of innovative therapies,” stated Dr. Jingsong Wang, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Harbour BioMed, in a press release. “This collaboration is a natural extension of our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technologies to advance our pipeline.”

Evinova, a health-tech business within AstraZeneca, has been quietly building a reputation as a leader in digital health solutions for the life sciences industry. “The goal isn't just to apply AI for the sake of it, but to solve specific challenges within the drug development process,” says Nate Zhang, General Manager of Evinova China. “We’re focused on creating solutions that deliver tangible benefits, from faster patient recruitment to more accurate prediction of clinical trial outcomes.”

A Strategic Fit for AstraZeneca’s Digital Ambitions

The partnership with HBM aligns with AstraZeneca's broader ambitions in the digital health space. The pharmaceutical giant has been investing heavily in AI and data analytics, recognizing the potential to transform its R&D operations. “AstraZeneca is actively looking for opportunities to leverage digital technologies to improve efficiency and drive innovation,” explains a financial analyst covering the company. “Evinova is a key component of that strategy.”

Beyond Efficiency: The Promise of Personalized Medicine

While the initial focus of the collaboration is on improving efficiency, experts believe that AI could also play a crucial role in enabling personalized medicine. “AI can analyze vast amounts of data to identify patients who are most likely to respond to a particular therapy,” says a consultant specializing in data analytics for pharmaceutical companies. “This could lead to more targeted treatments and improved patient outcomes.”

The integration of real-world data (RWD) is a key component of this vision. Evinova’s AI platform can analyze RWD from various sources, such as electronic health records and patient registries, to gain insights into disease patterns and treatment effectiveness. “RWD is a treasure trove of information that has historically been difficult to access and analyze,” notes an industry insider. “AI is making it possible to unlock the full potential of this data.”

Navigating the Challenges

Despite the immense potential of AI, there are also challenges that need to be addressed. One key challenge is the need for high-quality data. “AI algorithms are only as good as the data they’re trained on,” says a data scientist working with a pharmaceutical company. “If the data is biased or incomplete, the results will be unreliable.”

Another challenge is the need for skilled talent. “There’s a shortage of data scientists and AI engineers with the expertise to develop and deploy these solutions,” says an industry expert. “Pharmaceutical companies need to invest in training and recruitment to build their AI capabilities.”

Competition Heats Up

The collaboration between Harbour BioMed and Evinova is not happening in isolation. Major pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer, Novartis, and Roche are also investing heavily in AI and digital health. Several biotech startups, such as Recursion Pharmaceuticals and BenevolentAI, are also making significant strides in AI-driven drug discovery.

“The competition in this space is fierce,” says a venture capitalist specializing in biotech investments. “Pharmaceutical companies need to innovate quickly to stay ahead of the curve.”

Looking Ahead

The partnership between Harbour BioMed and Evinova represents a significant step forward in the integration of AI within the biopharmaceutical industry. By combining HBM’s expertise in antibody technology with Evinova’s AI-powered solutions, the two companies are well-positioned to accelerate the development of innovative therapies and improve patient outcomes.

As AI continues to evolve, it is likely to play an increasingly important role in all aspects of the drug development process. The companies that embrace these technologies and invest in building their AI capabilities will be best-positioned to succeed in the years ahead.