Isomorphic Labs and the Future of AI-Designed Drugs

The announcement from Isomorphic Labs, a spinoff of Google DeepMind, that it expects to initiate clinical trials for AI-designed drugs this year has sparked considerable interest in the pharmaceutical and tech industries. This information was reported by Bloomberg (the link is paywalled), highlighting comments made by Nobel Prize-winning CEO Demis Hassabis during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Hassabis stated, “We’ll hopefully have some AI-designed drugs in clinical trials by the end of the year. That’s the plan.” The company is aiming to revolutionize the drug discovery process, shortening it from years to mere weeks or months. However, while this ambition is commendable, it is essential to approach these claims with a critical lens.

Several companies, like Exscientia, Insilico Medicine, LanternPharma, and Recursion Pharmaceutical, have already claimed to be developing AI-designed drugs in clinical stages. Thus, Isomorphic Labs’ announcement is neither necessarily first nor groundbreaking. The skepticism surrounding these assertions is justified, as the practical application of AI in drug development remains a complex challenge.

However, Hassabis’ position as a Nobel laureate and the backing of Alphabet Inc. lend a degree of credibility to Isomorphic Labs’ efforts. Notably, the strategic research collaboration agreements announced last year with Eli Lilly & Co. and Novartis focus on small-molecule drug discovery across multiple targets, with a potential contract value of around $3 billion. This indicates that tangible results may emerge from these partnerships, reinforcing the importance of their announcement.

Despite this promising start, it is worth noting that Isomorphic Labs lacks established expertise in conducting clinical trials, traditionally held by seasoned pharmaceutical companies. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that their clinical partners will currently be Eli Lilly and Novartis. The choice of additional partners in the future will be crucial. While Isomorphic Labs may collaborate with these industry giants, similar AI drug discovery companies could also present potential partnerships for advancing their research.

As the landscape of drug development continues to evolve with AI at its helm, the collaboration between tech and pharmaceutical companies will be key. The next few years will reveal whether Isomorphic Labs can deliver on its ambitious plans and how it may influence the broader industry.

Takeaway Messages:

1. Skepticism About Claims: While Isomorphic Labs aims to revolutionize drug discovery with AI, it’s essential to remain cautious about such claims given that other companies have made similar announcements without substantial results.

2. Credibility Through Partnerships: The strategic collaborations with established pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly and Novartis enhance Isomorphic Labs’ credibility and may lead to significant advancements in drug development.

3. Importance of Clinical Expertise: Isomorphic Labs’ lack of experience in clinical trials highlights the importance of selecting the right partners, as their success in bringing AI-designed drugs to market will rely heavily on collaboration with seasoned pharmaceutical companies.