Quantifying Quantum Computing And AI Drug Development | The Brainstorm EP 72
Dec 18, 2024
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Brett Winton, ARK's Chief Futurist and a leading voice in technology, shares insights on the frontier of quantum computing and AI in drug development. The discussion kicks off with Google's groundbreaking quantum chip announcement, unveiling its enormous potential. They tackle the unique challenges facing quantum tech and explore the exciting collaboration between GlaxoSmithKline and Relation Therapeutics. Winton emphasizes AI's role in transforming drug trials, aiming for reduced costs and better patient outcomes, sparking a shift in the pharmaceutical landscape.
Quantum computing's commercial viability may remain elusive for another 15 years despite Google's advancements in quantum technology.
The partnership between GlaxoSmithKline and Relation Therapeutics illustrates AI's potential to dramatically reduce drug development costs and enhance efficiency.
Deep dives
The Current State of Quantum Computing
Google's recent announcement of their next-generation quantum chip, boasting twice the number of qubits, has stirred excitement within the tech community. Despite this advancement, the practical trajectory for quantum computing remains slow, with estimates suggesting significant commercial viability could still be 15 years away. The conversation highlights the complexity of transitioning quantum technologies from experimental setups to scalable applications, emphasizing that many companies may hype their progress to attract funding. Consequently, while quantum computing holds great promise, it continues to face substantial technical challenges that hinder rapid commercialization.
Breakthrough in AI Drug Discovery
A major partnership was announced between Relation Therapeutics and GlaxoSmithKline, potentially the largest collaboration involving a seed-stage biotech company, with both entities aiming to enhance drug discovery processes. AI technologies, exemplified by platforms like AlphaFold, are making significant strides in predicting protein structures, which is crucial for drug design. Compared to traditional methods, AI-enhanced drug development can reduce costs and timeframes substantially, potentially bringing the cost of drug development down to $600 million from the previous $2.4 billion. This shift could enable the development of treatments for diseases that were previously deemed unprofitable, thereby broadening the scope of healthcare solutions available.
Future of Drug Development and AI Integration
The integration of AI in drug discovery is set to revolutionize not only the efficiency of developing medications but also the entire pharmaceutical landscape, potentially increasing the throughput of successful drugs entering clinical trials. As AI-driven models become more common, traditional systems may struggle to keep pace with the rapid influx of new drugs, leading to potential bottlenecks in regulatory processes. The financial implications are profound, with AI platforms likely yielding returns on investments that far surpass traditional drug development methods. This evolution suggests a consolidation within the biotech industry, where companies using AI-driven strategies could dominate, posing challenges to those clinging to outdated methods.
Is quantum computing the next big thing? This week, Autonomous Technology and Robotics Director of Research Sam Korus and Associate Portfolio Manager Nick Grous are joined by ARK Chief Futurist Brett Winton to discuss the latest advancements in quantum computing and AI drug discovery. They discuss Google's recent quantum chip announcement, the challenges of scaling quantum technology, and the potential applications in drug discovery. The conversation shifts to the partnership between GlaxoSmithKline and Relation Therapeutics, highlighting the promise of AI in revolutionizing drug development processes, reducing costs, and improving efficiency. The episode concludes with insights on the future of drug development and the potential for significant market changes in the pharmaceutical industry.
If you know ARK, then you probably know about our long-term research projections, like estimating where we will be 5-10 years from now! But just because we are long-term investors, doesn’t mean we don’t have strong views and opinions on breaking news. In fact, we discuss and debate this every day. So now we’re sharing some of these internal discussions with you in our new video series, “The Brainstorm”, a co-production from ARK and Public.com. Tune in every week as we react to the latest in innovation. Here and there we’ll be joined by special guests, but ultimately this is our chance to join the conversation and share ARK’s quick takes on what’s going on in tech today.
Key Points From This Episode:
Quantum computing is still 15 years away from commercial viability.
AI is transforming drug discovery, making it faster and cheaper.
AI drug discovery could reduce development costs to $600 million.
The future of healthcare may focus on curing diseases rather than just treating them.
For more updates on Public.com:
Website: https://public.com/
YouTube: @publicinvest
Twitter: https://twitter.com/public
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