Lilly collaborates with OpenAI to discover novel medicines to treat drug-resistant bacteria
Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) has announced a collaboration with OpenAI to leverage generative AI for developing novel antimicrobials against drug-resistant bacteria. This partnership aims to address the global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which disproportionately affects low and middle-income countries due to poverty and inequality. Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials are significant contributors to AMR. This collaboration builds on Lilly's previous commitment to combating AMR, including a $100 million investment in the AMR Action Fund to develop 2-4 new antibiotics by 2030. OpenAI's COO, Brad Lightcap, emphasized the potential of AI to drive pharmaceutical innovation.
- Collaboration with OpenAI to harness generative AI for novel antimicrobial development.
- Reinforcement of Lilly's commitment to combating antimicrobial resistance.
- Previous $100 million investment in the AMR Action Fund aiming for 2-4 new antibiotics by 2030.
- Potential for AI-driven innovation in pharmaceutical development.
- None.
Insights
Eli Lilly's collaboration with OpenAI aims to leverage advanced AI for discovering new treatments for drug-resistant bacteria, a pressing global health issue. This partnership taps into the potential of generative AI to expedite the identification of novel antimicrobials, which could significantly enhance the pace and precision of drug discovery. The alliance directly addresses the critical need for innovative solutions in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a threat exacerbated by the widespread misuse of antibiotics. Generative AI can generate numerous molecular structures rapidly, potentially uncovering compounds that traditional methods might overlook. This approach aligns with Eli Lilly's ongoing efforts, evidenced by its $100 million commitment to the AMR Action Fund. For retail investors, this news highlights Eli Lilly's proactive stance in addressing major public health challenges, which could bolster its long-term research and development pipeline while potentially fostering significant breakthroughs in healthcare. However, it's essential to consider the high-risk, high-reward nature of such innovative ventures, as the success of AI-driven drug discovery remains to be fully realized in the pharmaceutical industry.
The partnership between Eli Lilly and OpenAI showcases the increasing intersection of technology and healthcare. OpenAI's generative AI technology is known for its ability to create new data and identify patterns, which can be incredibly valuable in drug discovery. The application of AI in pharmaceuticals can lead to accelerated research timelines and the identification of novel drug candidates that might not be found through traditional methods. This collaboration is a step towards harnessing the power of AI to solve complex biological problems. For investors, this indicates that Eli Lilly is not just relying on conventional research and development but is incorporating cutting-edge technology, potentially leading to faster innovation cycles. While this partnership is promising, it's worth noting that AI-driven drug discovery is still in its nascent stages and its long-term success and integration into mainstream drug development remain to be seen. Therefore, while it presents exciting possibilities, it also comes with uncertainties typical of pioneering technologies.
"Our collaboration with OpenAI represents a groundbreaking step forward in the fight against the growing but overlooked threat of antimicrobial resistance," said Diogo Rau, executive vice president and chief information and digital officer at Lilly. "Generative AI opens a new opportunity to accelerate the discovery of novel antimicrobials and the development of custom, purpose-built technologies in the battle against drug-resistant pathogens. This partnership underscores our commitment to addressing significant health challenges experienced by people around the world."
AMR affects countries in all regions and at all income levels and is exacerbated by poverty and inequality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, which results in the greatest impact and risk. The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals and plants are the main drivers in the development of drug-resistant pathogens, magnifying this threat to global health.
"We're excited to work with Lilly to find new ways to treat microbial infections," said Brad Lightcap, chief operating officer at OpenAI. "Advanced AI has the potential to deliver innovative breakthroughs in pharma, and we're committed to working together with industry leaders to deliver tangible benefits for patients."
This collaboration with OpenAI supports Lilly's earlier commitment to fighting drug-resistant pathogens through its Social Impact Venture Capital Portfolio. In 2020, the portfolio committed
About Lilly
Lilly is a medicine company turning science into healing to make life better for people around the world. We've been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years, and today our medicines help more than 51 million people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world's most significant health challenges: redefining diabetes care; treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects; advancing the fight against Alzheimer's disease; providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders; and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each step toward a healthier world, we're motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable. To learn more, visit Lilly.com and Lilly.com/news, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. C-LLY
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about the benefits of a collaboration between Lilly and OpenAI, Lilly's research and development strategy, and potential payments to OpenAI in connection with the collaboration and reflects Lilly's current beliefs and expectations. However, as with any such undertaking, there are substantial risks and uncertainties in the process of drug research, development and commercialization. Among other things, there can be no guarantee that Lilly will realize the expected benefits of the collaboration, that the collaboration will yield commercially successful products, or that Lilly will execute its strategy as expected. For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from Lilly's expectations, see Lilly's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release.
Refer to: | |
Joe Fletcher; jfletcher@lilly.com; 317-296-2884 (Investors) |
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SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company
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