Pharma sector doubles down on AI to slash costs, timelines
LLY•Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly using AI to speed research and development, with industry forecasts suggesting machine learning could halve early-stage development timelines and costs within three to five years. The latest listed deal is Eli Lilly’s collaboration with METiS TechBio, involving low double-digit millions of dollars upfront and up to $1.1 billion in milestones, plus royalties.
1. AI partnerships expand
Pharmaceutical companies are turning to AI modeling tools and automated labs to improve research and development efficiency. Industry forecasts suggest machine learning for target discovery, molecule design and clinical trial planning could halve early-stage development timelines and costs within the next three to five years.
2. Lilly and METiS deal
Eli Lilly and METiS TechBio announced a collaboration to use METiS’s AI-driven drug-delivery platform to develop technologies aimed at improving how lipid nanoparticle-based drugs reach target tissues. The deal includes a low-double-digit-million-dollar upfront payment and up to $1.1 billion in milestone payments, plus royalties.
