Merck Partners with Variational AI to Accelerate Drug Discovery

In a groundbreaking partnership, pharmaceutical giant Merck has joined forces with Vancouver-based artificial intelligence (AI) company Variational AI to accelerate the process of drug discovery. The collaboration, facilitated by the not-for-profit biopharmaceutical research consortium CQDM Quantum Leap, aims to leverage Variational AI’s Enki platform in generating novel molecules for targeted therapies.

Variational AI’s Enki platform is unique among AI platforms because it utilizes the language of chemistry to create recipes for specific molecules. While other AI platforms may generate images or provide answers to questions, Enki specializes in designing novel, selective, and synthesizable lead-like structures. CEO Handol Kim compared Enki’s approach to how generative AI models like DALL-E and Midjourney create images based on text prompts.

Merck will be evaluating Enki’s ability to generate novel small molecules based on their designated targets. By providing target product profiles (TPPs), scientists using the Enki platform can describe the desired characteristics of the molecules they seek. Enki then utilizes its generative AI model to produce structures that meet the TPPs, streamlining the process of lead optimization and enabling scientists to quickly move towards the next stages of drug development.

Traditionally, AI adoption in drug discovery has been led by companies that use their proprietary AI models to develop their own assets. However, Variational AI’s Enki platform offers a different approach by eliminating the need for individual chemists to develop their own generative AI models. Instead, they can simply submit their TPPs and receive diverse, selective, and synthesizable lead-like structures in a matter of days.

Utilizing Enki’s technology not only speeds up the drug discovery process but also opens doors to potential scientific breakthroughs. Scientists using Enki to create molecule recipes can then contract workers to synthesize the molecules based on those recipes. It is important to note that any potential drugs resulting from these AI-driven molecule recipes will still need to undergo rigorous regulatory and clinical trials.

Variational AI’s partnership with Merck represents a significant step in harnessing the power of AI in the field of drug discovery. By leveraging Enki’s innovative approach to molecule generation, scientists can accelerate their research and development efforts, bringing them closer to finding novel and effective treatments for various diseases. The Enki platform continues to revolutionize the realm of AI-powered drug discovery, proving that technology and innovation go hand in hand in shaping the future of medicine.