Roche struck a discovery and licence collaboration with Manifold Bio to develop next‑generation brain shuttles, paying roughly $55 million upfront and structuring potential payments that could exceed $2 billion. The pact pairs Roche’s neurology pipeline ambitions with Manifold’s AI‑driven discovery platform focused on blood‑brain barrier transport. Roche said the deal will support design and optimisation of brain‑penetrant delivery vehicles amid the company’s late‑stage Brainshuttle programs. Manifold’s technology will be applied to identify and engineer shuttle modalities; Roche will fund research and hold development rights under the agreement. The collaboration underscores pharma’s prioritisation of BBB solutions as a strategic bottleneck in neurology — a high‑value area where delivery technology can materially affect clinical viability and commercial reach.