Drug discovery is becoming a technology problem as much as a biological one. Pharmaceutical researchers now have access to increasingly sophisticated computational models, structural biology tools and AI systems that can help identify and optimize potential drug candidates.

Almirall’s latest partnership illustrates how that shift is playing out in medical dermatology.

The Barcelona-based biopharmaceutical company has signed a collaboration and licensing agreement with Shenzhen-based CrystalO Biopharma Technology to launch an R&D program focused on novel small molecules for skin diseases. The companies will combine CrystalO’s expertise in ion channels and AI-driven drug discovery with Almirall’s experience in dermatology research, clinical development and global commercialization.

Under the agreement, CrystalO will use its AI- and structure-based drug discovery platform to identify and optimize candidate compounds. Its responsibilities are expected to extend through IND-enabling studies and early clinical development, with the program targeting proof-of-concept clinical testing.

Almirall will receive exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize the resulting compounds and products globally outside mainland China. CrystalO will retain commercial rights in mainland China.

The structure gives each company a defined role. CrystalO contributes discovery technology and early development capabilities, while Almirall brings the clinical, regulatory and commercial infrastructure required to advance dermatology treatments through later stages.

Why Ion Channels Matter in Drug Discovery

The partnership is particularly notable because it focuses on ion channels, a class of proteins involved in controlling the movement of ions across cell membranes.

Ion channels play roles in numerous biological processes, including nerve signaling, inflammation and immune responses. Their involvement in disease biology makes them potentially valuable therapeutic targets, but developing selective small molecules against ion channels can be technically challenging.

CrystalO's focus on ion channel target discovery therefore gives the collaboration a more specific scientific direction than a general-purpose AI drug discovery agreement.

AI and computational chemistry can potentially help researchers explore chemical structures, predict interactions and prioritize compounds for laboratory testing. The technology does not eliminate the need for experimental validation or clinical research, but it can help narrow the number of candidates that move through the discovery pipeline.

That is becoming increasingly important as pharmaceutical companies seek ways to improve R&D productivity.

A 2024 McKinsey analysis found that generative AI could create significant value across the biopharmaceutical value chain, particularly in areas such as drug discovery, clinical development and commercialization. McKinsey estimated that generative AI could generate between $60 billion and $110 billion annually in economic value across the pharmaceutical and medical-product industries.

The technology is therefore increasingly being evaluated not simply as an automation tool, but as part of the underlying architecture of pharmaceutical R&D.

A Specialized AI Drug Discovery Strategy

The Almirall-CrystalO agreement also reflects a broader pharmaceutical strategy: combining internal therapeutic expertise with external computational capabilities.

Rather than building an end-to-end AI drug discovery platform internally, Almirall is partnering with a specialist whose technology is focused on a specific biological target class.

That approach can potentially reduce the time required to establish discovery capabilities in a new research area while giving the smaller biotechnology company access to a global dermatology development and commercialization organization.

The arrangement also provides CrystalO with a path beyond discovery.

Its role includes candidate compound discovery and optimization, IND-enabling work and early clinical development through proof of concept. That creates a development continuum in which promising candidates can move from computational discovery toward clinical validation before Almirall takes responsibility for development, manufacturing and commercialization outside China.

For Almirall, this expands its potential pipeline without relying exclusively on internally generated programs.

China Becomes Part of the Commercial Equation

The geographic rights structure is another important element of the agreement.

Almirall will hold rights outside mainland China, while CrystalO retains rights in mainland China. This allows the two companies to pursue regional commercialization strategies while sharing the economics of future products.

It also reflects the growing importance of China's biotechnology ecosystem to global pharmaceutical R&D.

Chinese biotech companies have increasingly developed specialized capabilities in drug discovery, computational biology and clinical development, creating opportunities for Western pharmaceutical companies to access technology and research capabilities through partnerships.

For Almirall, the deal is also consistent with its stated interest in expanding innovation activities in China.

The financial terms include an upfront payment to CrystalO, followed by potential research, development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments. CrystalO is also eligible for tiered royalties based on future net sales, while it will pay Almirall tiered royalties on product sales in mainland China.

Neither company disclosed the financial value of the upfront payment or potential milestone payments.

What the Deal Means for Medical Dermatology

Medical dermatology has become an increasingly sophisticated pharmaceutical market, spanning inflammatory skin diseases, immunological conditions and other chronic disorders that can require long-term treatment.

The challenge for companies such as Almirall is maintaining a pipeline capable of addressing diseases where existing therapies may not provide adequate efficacy, safety or convenience.

AI-enabled discovery could become one part of that strategy.

The important caveat is that AI does not make drug development predictable. A computationally promising molecule still has to demonstrate appropriate pharmacology, safety, manufacturing feasibility and clinical efficacy.

The commercial value of this collaboration will therefore depend on whether CrystalO can translate its computational and ion-channel expertise into viable clinical candidates and whether those candidates ultimately demonstrate proof of concept.

For now, the agreement gives both companies access to complementary capabilities.

Almirall says it has invested more than €1 billion in medical dermatology R&D over the past decade and continued allocating approximately 12.5% of net sales to R&D in 2025. That level of investment indicates the strategic importance of pipeline development to the company's long-term positioning.

The CrystalO partnership adds another external discovery engine to that strategy.

Market Landscape

AI-driven drug discovery is moving from experimentation toward integration with conventional pharmaceutical R&D. Companies are using machine learning, structural modeling, computational chemistry and generative AI to identify targets, design molecules and prioritize candidates.

The competitive landscape includes specialized AI drug discovery companies as well as large pharmaceutical companies developing internal AI capabilities. Microsoft, Google, Amazon and other technology companies are also developing AI infrastructure and models that can support life-sciences research, while pharmaceutical organizations are increasingly combining those capabilities with proprietary biological and clinical data.

For dermatology, the value proposition is particularly interesting because drug discovery can involve complex biological targets and large unmet needs across chronic skin diseases.

Almirall's partnership with CrystalO represents a focused approach: apply AI and structure-based discovery to a defined target class while leveraging a specialist dermatology company's development infrastructure.

Strategic Outlook

The pharmaceutical industry's AI strategy is increasingly shifting from broad experimentation to targeted partnerships.

The Almirall-CrystalO collaboration shows how that model can work: a specialized biotech supplies computational and biological discovery capabilities, while a larger pharmaceutical company contributes therapeutic expertise, regulatory infrastructure and commercial reach.

The longer-term test will be whether AI-enabled discovery can produce clinically meaningful candidates faster or more efficiently than conventional approaches.

For medical dermatology, that could eventually translate into new treatments for patients with conditions where existing therapeutic options remain limited.

Top Insights

• Almirall and CrystalO are combining AI-driven drug discovery with ion-channel research to identify small molecules targeting unmet needs in medical dermatology.
• CrystalO will manage discovery, optimization and early development, giving Almirall access to specialized AI and structure-based research capabilities.
• Almirall's exclusive rights outside mainland China create a global commercialization pathway while allowing CrystalO to retain its domestic Chinese market position.
• The collaboration reflects a broader biopharma shift toward partnerships that combine specialized AI platforms with established clinical and regulatory infrastructure.
• The program's eventual value will depend on whether computationally identified candidates can demonstrate safety, efficacy and proof of concept in clinical testing.

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