April 20 (Reuters) – German drugmaker Boehringer Ingelheim is launching a centre for artificial intelligence and machine learning in London, it said on Monday, as it seeks to expand its AI capabilities in pharmaceutical research and development.
Drugmakers are increasingly turning to AI to reduce the most time-consuming aspects of drug development, from trial recruitment and site selection to regulatory paperwork, even as industry leaders acknowledge the technology has fallen short in discovering major new molecules.
• London to be company’s fourth location after Austria, Germany, and U.S. specialized in using advanced computing methods, such as algorithms, data analysis, and AI to improve processes and accelerate discovery
• Focus on developing targeted medicines for patients with unmet medical needs
• Boehringer to invest 150 million pounds ($200 million) over 10 years
• “The UK has a strong legacy in AI, and the government’s continued commitment to advancing data-driven innovation in life sciences and healthcare makes it an ideal location,” said Paola Casarosa, Global Head, Innovation Unit at Boehringer Ingelheim
• Centre located near King’s Cross station in Knowledge Quarter area of London, which hosts many AI companies including OpenAI, Google and Meta
• Britain has recently pushed to cast itself as an “AI superpower” and a home for cutting-edge research
• Swiss drugmaker Roche said has expanded its AI computing capacity with more than 2,100 Nvidia chips
($1 = 0.7407 pounds)
(Reporting by Maggie Fick, writing by Linda Pasquini, editing by Madeline Chambers)
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