Absci vs BigHat Biosciences (2026)
Absci and BigHat Biosciences both pair antibody design models with their own automated laboratories and run internal pipelines alongside pharma partnerships, and CB Insights lists BigHat first among Absci's competitors. They start from different points. Absci's Origin-1 designs antibodies de novo against a chosen epitope, and lead optimization models tune them, with SoluPro cell lines and the ACE assay supplying billions of protein interaction measurements a week. Its lead, ABS-201, an anti prolactin receptor antibody, is in a Phase 1/2a trial for pattern hair loss with an estimated half life of at least 65 days, and Eli Lilly invested $40 million in June 2026. BigHat starts from an existing molecule, its own or a partner's, and improves it in rounds: its Milliner lab makes and tests more than 2,000 molecules a week across more than 20 assays, and eleven papers at machine learning conferences describe its methods. BHB810, an antibody drug conjugate for gastrointestinal cancers, dosed its first patient in September 2026, and partners include AbbVie, Amgen, Merck, Johnson & Johnson and Eli Lilly. Absci suits a partner seeking new antibodies against epitopes with no known binder; BigHat suits one with a molecule to improve across formats such as multispecifics and conjugates.
- De novo antibody design against a chosen epitope with Origin-1.
- Billions of protein interaction measurements a week from SoluPro cell lines and the ACE assay.
- A clinical lead, ABS-201, with interim Phase 1 data and a half life of at least 65 days.
- Annual third party penetration testing described in its annual report.
- Optimization of an existing antibody, including multispecifics, single domain antibodies and conjugates.
- More than 2,000 molecules made and tested a week across more than 20 assays.
- Eleven method papers at ICML, ICLR, NeurIPS and PMLR.
- Published partnership terms with AbbVie: $30 million upfront and up to $325 million in milestones.
This comparison is published by AI Health Index, an independent research platform that compares healthcare AI vendors objectively. Absci and BigHat Biosciences are each graded against the same capability taxonomy, from each vendor's own public materials and the regulatory record, under the AI Health Index verification standard. No vendor pays for placement, and no vendor has reviewed this page. How this evidence is graded
Plain facts
| Fact | Absci | BigHat Biosciences |
|---|---|---|
| Primary category | Drug Discovery AI | Drug Discovery AI |
| Founded | 2011 | 2019 |
| Headquarters | Vancouver, Washington | San Mateo, California, United States |
| Website | absci.com | bighatbio.com |
Side by Side
Select any grade to read the note behind it.
Each vendor in one paragraph
Written to be quoted whole. Each paragraph states what the AI Health Index verified about the vendor, with the caveats attached.
Absci designs antibodies from scratch against a chosen epitope with its Origin-1 model, tunes them with lead optimization models and tests them in its own Vancouver, Washington laboratory, then develops the best as its own medicines, led by ABS-201 in Phase 1/2a, or with partners.
Source: AI Health Index, October 2026
BigHat Biosciences improves existing antibodies in fast design and test rounds, pairing its RADS machine learning stack with the Milliner automated lab and the Reccy data plane, and takes its own conjugates and T cell engagers toward the clinic while working with five large pharma partners.
Source: AI Health Index, October 2026
Questions buyers ask
Does each one design antibodies from scratch?
Absci's Origin-1 designs antibodies de novo against an epitope the scientist chooses. BigHat usually starts from an existing antibody, its own or a partner's, and improves it over repeated design and test rounds. From the AI Health Index, drawn from each vendor's own published materials and the regulatory record, verified October 12, 2026. No vendor pays for placement.
What has reached patients?
Absci's ABS-201 is in the Phase 1/2a HEADLINE trial for pattern hair loss, with interim data reported in June 2026. BigHat's BHB810, an antibody drug conjugate for gastrointestinal cancers, dosed its first patient in a Phase 1 trial on 1 September 2026. From the AI Health Index, drawn from each vendor's own published materials and the regulatory record, verified October 12, 2026. No vendor pays for placement.
How do partners work with each company?
Absci runs drug creation partnerships with milestones and royalties, with past partners including AstraZeneca and Almirall, and keeps the terms private. BigHat names AbbVie, Amgen, Merck, Johnson & Johnson and Eli Lilly as partners and has published the AbbVie terms. From the AI Health Index, drawn from each vendor's own published materials and the regulatory record, verified October 12, 2026. No vendor pays for placement.
Related comparisons
Other published head to head assessments involving these vendors or their closest peers. The full set for this category is on the Drug Discovery AI page.
Eli Lilly has money in both companies: its June 2026 investment in Absci carries no program rights, and it is both a partner of and an investor in BigHat.