Posted May 01, 2026 Updated: May 1, 2026

Graphic from Profluent.

News Release

EMERYVILLE — Eli Lilly announced a multi-program strategic research collaboration with California-based AI company Profluent to develop and commercialize custom site-specific recombinases to address diseases with severe unmet needs.

The collaboration focuses on enabling large-scale, precise DNA editing capabilities that remain out of reach using conventional gene editing systems. By combining Profluent’s frontier AI models with Lilly’s clinical and developmental capabilities in genetic medicines, the companies aim to expand the scope and scalability of programmable gene editing therapeutics.

Hilary Eaton, Chief Business Officer of Profluent, added: “Standard knock-out and base editing approaches leave entire categories of disease out of reach. Kilobase-scale DNA editing is how we reach them – and Profluent’s generative models, trained on the world’s largest protein dataset including the most comprehensive database of naturally occurring recombinases, were built for exactly this problem. Our goal is to create a fully programmable platform applicable across rare and common diseases alike, and we believe Lilly is the ideal partner to bring these tools to the patients who need them most.”

Many genetic diseases are caused by multiple different mutations across patient populations rather than a single mutation. This heterogeneity makes it difficult to develop targeted therapies that work for all patients. Large-scale DNA editing (i.e., the ability to insert long stretches of DNA, sometimes entire genes, at precise locations in the genome) could address this challenge but remains one of the most significant unsolved problems in genetic medicine.

Traditional approaches rely on finding naturally occurring enzymes that happen to work at target sites. Profluent is taking a different approach: using AI to create designer recombinases—custom enzymes programmed to target exact locations in the genome.

Under the agreement, Profluent will apply its AI models to design and optimize site-specific recombinases for multiple genomic targets. Lilly will receive an exclusive license to advance selected recombinases through in vivo research, preclinical development, clinical studies, and commercialization.

“Kilobase-scale DNA editing remains a holy grail in genetic medicine,” said Ali Madani, co-founder and CEO of Profluent. “Our work with Lilly is aimed at unlocking these therapeutics previously thought impossible. We believe only AI can create the designer recombinases needed to precisely target any location in the genome. This collaboration with Lilly demonstrates that our platform is ready to build the toolkit needed to scale genetic medicines. We’re seeing strong demand from the pharmaceutical industry, and this partnership validates our approach to solving previously intractable problems.”

Profluent is an AI company pioneering large-scale foundation models for protein design. Currently, it is pushing the frontier of de novo protein design to author new biology. It was founded in 2022 and headquartered in Emeryville, Cal.

Profluent will receive an upfront payment in addition to committed research and development funding. In total, Profluent is eligible to receive up to $2.25 billion in development and commercial milestone payments plus tiered royalties on net sales. Further details of the agreement have not been disclosed.