Boehringer Ingelheim is set to leverage an artificial intelligence model trained in IBM’s computer labs as the German pharmaceutical company joins other major players in utilizing machine learning tools for drug discovery.
The foundational technology model, initially developed and trained by IBM, will undergo further refinement using Boehringer’s proprietary data. This collaboration aims to empower the pharmaceutical company in discovering novel antibody therapeutics.
Andrew Nixon, the global head of biotherapeutics discovery at Boehringer, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with IBM’s research team in advancing in silico biologic drug discovery. The goal is to establish an innovative platform for accelerated antibody discovery, ultimately leading to the development of new treatments for patients with significant unmet medical needs.
The concept revolves around providing the AI model with data on disease targets’ sequence, structure, and molecular characteristics. Subsequently, the model can simulate experiments to pinpoint antibody molecules with the highest probability of success. These molecules are then subjected to laboratory testing, with the outcomes integrated back into the AI model for further optimization.
IBM’s foundation model technology has demonstrated its efficacy in generating biologics and small molecules tailored to specific target affinities. Notably, IBM has a history of involvement in drug discovery, exemplified by granting Pfizer access to IBM Watson cognitive computing capabilities in 2016. Moreover, Moderna recently engaged with IBM to explore the application of quantum computers in their future therapeutic endeavors.
Alessandro Curioni, the vice president of accelerated discovery at IBM Research, highlighted the company’s pioneering work in developing generative AI models that expand beyond conventional language models. The collaboration with Boehringer signifies an exciting opportunity to introduce IBM’s multimodal foundation model technologies to enhance the pharmaceutical giant’s ability to expedite the creation of new therapeutics.
