STAT+: AI can speed up drug discovery but don’t expect it to cure cancer, yet
AI models can help speed up some parts of the drug development process but experts say the technology is a long way from major breakthroughs.
David Reese calls it a “hinge moment” — the turning point when biotech and big tech merge to attack human disease with artificial intelligence.
At Amgen, where he’s led drug research and development since 2018, Reese said this moment has finally arrived. The proof lies not only in organizational changes, such as his recent appointment as the company’s first chief technology officer, but also in Amgen’s broader push to embed AI into every aspect of the drug discovery process.
“We’re now seeing 10-fold improvements in these (AI) models every six months,” said Reese, a medical oncologist by training. He added that the quickening pace of advancement means investing in the technology is no longer optional: “It’s something we must do to have a practical, pragmatic impact on drug discovery.”
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