Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing medical science through cutting-edge diagnostics and AI-powered devices. Now, AI is coming to unprecedented drug discovery and drug development.
Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk has announced plans to collaborate with OpenAI with the aim of leveraging artificial intelligence to boost drug discovery efficiency.
Under this partnership, the drugmaker and Eli Lilly’s competitors will deploy AI tools across their businesses from drug discovery, manufacturing to commercial operations.
Additionally, the makers of Vegovy and Ozempic will use OpenAI’s technology to assess complex datasets and identify promising drug candidates.
These tools will also increase efficiency and remove bottlenecks in supply chains, drug distribution and procurement operations.
Novo said the partnership also includes rigorous data security, governance and human oversight, while involving other technology partners and research organizations.
On behalf of OpenAI, the tech company will train Novo’s global workforce by equipping them with AI literacy and essential skills.
Additional details such as the financial terms of the agreement are still unknown. Talking about the timeline, the company hopes to launch the pilot program with full integration by the end of 2026.
Is AI meant to replace scientists?
Given the increasing integration of AI, it is generally feared that AI will soon replace even scientists, making them irrelevant in the field of drug discovery.
According to CEO Mike Daustada, “The objective here is not to replace our scientists. It’s about supercharging them.”
The OpenAI chief also released a statement saying, “AI is reshaping industries and in the life sciences, it can help people live better, longer lives.”
“This collaboration with Novo Nordisk will help them accelerate scientific discovery, drive better global operations, and redefine the future of patient care.” He added.
AI revolution in drug discovery
In the rapidly developing era of artificial intelligence, AI is taking over a lot of the work done by drug manufacturers.
To streamline the more difficult aspects of drug development, pharmaceutical companies are increasingly relying on AI — using it for everything from identifying clinical trial participants and selecting research sites to drafting complex regulatory filings.
Using generative AI, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have designed novel antibiotics to combat two drug-resistant infections, gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) and methicillin-resistant (Staphylococcus aureus) MRSA.
AI can also do “freestyle” molecular design or build on existing molecules, allowing millions of possibilities to be generated in hours rather than years.
AI is also used to repurpose existing drugs. So, these models are being used to “map” the world’s 8,000 approved drugs against 17,000 diseases.
Despite these successes, AI models have yet to fully master the “holy grail” of drug development.
