Science & Tech · AI · 1 hr ago
Pharma companies invest heavily as AI reshapes drug research
Pharmaceutical companies are investing in artificial intelligence to help discover and develop medicines.
Roche is expanding a supercomputer platform and building more automated laboratories, while Novartis is working with Google-owned Isomorphic Labs.
AI can help researchers identify promising drug targets, assess possible side effects and choose patients for clinical trials.
Novartis says AI helped researchers find promising approaches in work on kidney disease and Huntington’s disease.
At Roche, AI played a fundamental role in 40 percent of drug-development decisions over three quarters, according to a Genentech research chief.
The companies need to show that these investments save time and money or improve the chances of developing successful medicines.
Experts see faster research as a potential benefit, but the value of AI in drug development remains uncertain.
Pharmaceutical companies are investing heavily in computing infrastructure, laboratories and partnerships as they apply artificial intelligence to drug research.
Roche is expanding its AI Factory supercomputer platform with Nvidia, while Novartis is working with Alphabet subsidiary Isomorphic Labs.
AI could help researchers identify drug candidates, assess side effects, find drug combinations and support clinical trials.
Roche research chief Aviv Regev said AI played a fundamental role in 40 percent of decisions on new medicines over three quarters.
Analysts say AI’s current potential in pharma is chiefly to save time, while companies still need to show measurable benefits from their investments.
- Who
- Pharmaceutical companies including Roche and Novartis, as well as AI companies such as Nvidia and Isomorphic Labs.
- What
- Pharma companies are investing in AI computing, research partnerships and automated laboratories to reshape drug research.
- When
- The article was published on October 12, 2026. It also refers to announcements in March and April of that year.
- Where
- The story focuses on pharmaceutical companies and research activity; Roche’s AI Factory platform is not located in the article.
- Why
- AI may speed research, reduce costs and improve the success rate of drug candidates.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
We should not overextend our trust in AI.
I would not be.
Eli Lilly had claimed to have the industry’s largest AI computing platform.
Roche announced it would expand its AI Factory supercomputer platform with Nvidia.
Anthropic appointed Novartis chief executive Vas Narasimhan to its board.
- Roche AI platform
- AI Factory, developed with Nvidia
- Novartis partnership
- Isomorphic Labs could receive up to $1.2 billion
- Roche AI use
- AI played a fundamental role in 40% of decisions over three quarters
- Novartis research
- AI helped identify promising approaches for kidney and Huntington’s disease research
Sources
Related news
Anthropic AI submits false murder tip to Philadelphia police
Nadella calls for human-controlled emergency brake on advanced AI
Three-quarters of online stores score poorly on AI shopping readiness
TikTok CEO predicts AI-driven scientific breakthroughs within three years
Microsoft expands Copilot Notebooks with productivity and automation upgrades
Chinese factories are adopting AI agents and taking the approach abroad
European rules slow rollout of remotely controlled river ships
OpenAI’s ChatGPT for Teens Study Mode Still Does Homework
Anthropic bars repeated cruelty toward its AI models
OpenAI fires three safety researchers after dispute over sensitive information
Bill Gates says safeguards are not keeping pace with AI risks
