According to the Zhongtong Finance app, Eli Lilly and Co. (LLY.US) is partnering with OpenAI, a ChatGPT manufacturer, to develop new treatments for antibiotic-resistant diseases using artificial intelligence (AI).

On Tuesday, the two companies announced that they will collaborate to develop "new antibiotics" to combat drug-resistant pathogens, calling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) "one of the biggest public health and development threats facing the world."

Diogo Rau, Eli Lilly's Chief Information and Digital Officer, said in a statement that "our collaboration with OpenAI represents a breakthrough in tackling the increasingly severe but neglected threat of antibiotic resistance."

"Generative artificial intelligence provides a new opportunity to accelerate the discovery of new antibiotics and develop custom dedicated technologies in the fight against drug-resistant pathogens. This partnership underscores our commitment to addressing major health challenges facing people around the world," Rau said.

Tuesday's announcement did not disclose financial terms. Eli Lilly pledged in 2020 to invest $100 million to develop two to four new antibiotics by 2030.

Brad Lightcap, COO of OpenAI, said the company believes its artificial intelligence has the potential to achieve "innovative breakthroughs" in the pharmaceutical industry.

Pharmaceutical companies have been using various forms of artificial intelligence in drug development for many years, including improving production efficiency and clinical trials, long before the recent artificial intelligence boom.

Thanks to strong demand for new weight-loss drugs, Eli Lilly's stock price has risen more than 55% this year.