Eli Lilly and Co. announced that it has partnered with OpenAI to develop new antibacterial drugs using its generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology; advanced AI may bring innovative breakthroughs to the pharmaceutical industry, and we are committed to working with industry leaders to bring tangible benefits to patients.
On June 26th, Caixin reported (Editor: Niù Zhànlín) that on Tuesday local time, US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Co announced that it has reached a cooperation agreement with OpenAI to develop new antibiotics using its generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Earlier this month, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a report stating that the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of antimicrobial drugs has become one of the top ten public health threats in the world. When bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to drugs, AMR occurs, making people's illnesses worse and increasing the risk of difficult-to-treat infections, diseases, and death.
The WHO pointed out that the world urgently needs new innovative drugs to treat severe infections and replace those that have become ineffective due to widespread use.
Diogo Rau, chief information and digital officer of Lilly, said: "Our collaboration with OpenAI represents a groundbreaking step in the fight against the increasingly serious but neglected threat of AMR."
Diogo pointed out that generative AI provides a new opportunity to help researchers accelerate the discovery of new antibacterial agents, develop specialized technologies in the fight against resistant bacteria, and the collaboration between the two companies will help to address major health challenges faced by people worldwide.
In fact, AMR has impacted all countries worldwide, but low-income and middle-income countries may not have access to urgently needed antibacterial drugs, which exacerbates the threat to global health.
Brad Lightcap, COO of OpenAI, said: "We are excited to partner with Lilly in finding new ways to treat microbial infections. Advanced AI has the potential to bring innovative breakthroughs to the pharmaceutical industry, and we are committed to working with industry leaders to bring tangible benefits to patients."
Earlier, Lilly pledged to provide $100 million to the AMR Action Fund to support clinical research for new antibiotics. The AMR Action Fund, initiated by more than 20 biopharmaceutical companies, is a $1 billion fund aimed at providing 2-4 new antibiotics to patients by 2030.
Earlier this month, biotechnology startup Elion Therapeutics received an $81 million Series B financing led by Deerfield Management and the AMR Action Fund, to support the company's development of new antifungal therapies.