Biotech companies in Europe are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) for drug discovery, a process that involves finding new molecules that can modulate biological targets and treat diseases. AI can help biotech companies accelerate and optimize drug discovery by analyzing large amounts of data, generating novel hypotheses, and predicting the properties and outcomes of potential drugs.
One example of a European biotech company that uses AI for drug discovery is BenevolentAI, based in the UK. The company uses a platform that combines natural language processing, machine learning, and knowledge graphs to generate and validate new drug candidates. BenevolentAI has partnered with several pharmaceutical companies and research institutions to apply its AI technology to various therapeutic areas, such as neurodegeneration, inflammation, and rare diseases.
Another example is Exscientia, also based in the UK. The company uses a platform that applies evolutionary algorithms, deep learning, and reinforcement learning to design and optimize new drugs. Exscientia claims to be the first company to use AI to discover a drug that entered clinical trials, a molecule for obsessive-compulsive disorder. The company has also collaborated with several partners to develop drugs for oncology, immunology, and metabolic diseases.
Besides these established players, there are also many emerging biotech companies in Europe that use AI for drug discovery. Some of them are focused on specific domains or technologies, such as protein engineering, synthetic biology, or computer vision. Others are targeting novel or challenging biological targets, such as epigenetics, microbiome, or RNA. These companies are attracting the attention and investment of venture capitalists, pharmaceutical companies, and academic institutions.
The emergence of biotech companies in Europe using AI for drug discovery reflects the growing trend of applying AI to biotechnology. This trend is driven by the availability of large and diverse datasets, the advancement of computational power and algorithms, and the need for faster and cheaper drug development. As AI becomes more integrated and sophisticated in biotechnology, it is expected to enable new discoveries and innovations that can benefit human health.