SandboxAQ Launches AQAffinity to Accelerate Drug Discovery with Structure-Free Affinity Prediction
Event summary
- SandboxAQ launched AQAffinity on January 20, 2026, integrating it with OpenFold3 to enable structure-free drug affinity prediction.
- AQAffinity eliminates the need for pre-existing structures, allowing researchers to 'fail fast' and prioritize promising candidates earlier in the discovery process.
- The model is open-source under Apache License 2.0, providing full transparency and customization options for researchers.
- OpenFold Consortium members beta-tested AQAffinity in December 2025 before its official launch.
The big picture
SandboxAQ's launch of AQAffinity addresses a critical bottleneck in early-stage drug discovery by enabling rapid, structure-free binding affinity predictions. This development aligns with the broader industry trend toward AI-driven, open-source tools that accelerate biopharma research and reduce reliance on costly wet lab cycles. The integration with OpenFold3 positions SandboxAQ as a key player in advancing accessible, transparent AI solutions for drug discovery.
What we're watching
- Adoption Pace
- How quickly biopharma researchers will integrate AQAffinity into their workflows, given its open-source nature and structure-free capabilities.
- Competitive Parity
- Whether AQAffinity can sustain its competitive edge against proprietary models by continuously enhancing performance through the OpenFold Consortium's ecosystem.
- Regulatory Impact
- The extent to which structure-free affinity prediction will influence regulatory approval processes for novel therapies developed using this technology.
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