Bayer begins $240m AI drug discovery project with Exscientia
Germany-based Bayer is collaborating with Exscientia, an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery company, to accelerate the discovery of small molecule drugs focused on cardiovascular disease and oncology.
Announced yesterday, January 9, the partnership will see Exscientia initially work on three projects, making it eligible to receive up to €240 million ($266 million), including upfront and research payments, near term and clinical milestones.
Andrew Hopkins, CEO of Exscientia, said: “We’re delighted to collaborate with Bayer, a globally recognised pharmaceutical company.
“Since our pioneering Nature papers demonstrating the automated design of small-molecules, we have enhanced our platform and exemplified it commercially, by accelerating the discovery of future drug molecules with partners.”
As part of the deal, Exscientia will apply its Centaur Chemist AI drug discovery platform, which uses deep learning algorithms to discover and optimise novel drug candidates.
Joerg Moeller, member of the executive committee of Bayer’s pharmaceuticals division and head of research and development, said: “We are driving forward digital transformation in research and development as we believe that digital technologies such as AI can simplify and speed up the discovery and development of new drugs for patients.”
Bayer isn’t the first pharmaceutical company to see the potential in AI-driven drug discovery.
GSK also entered into a strategic drug discovery collaboration with Exscientia back in 2017
In May last year, LSIPR reported AstraZeneca began collaborating with UK-headquartered BenevolentAI to use AI and machine learning for the discovery and development of new treatments.
Then, in September, Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis united with BenevolentAI to aid in the discovery and development of new treatments.
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