In a strategic move to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence (AI) models for drug discovery, chipmaker Nvidia has announced its plan to invest $50 million in Recursion Pharmaceuticals. Following this announcement, Recursion’s stock experienced a significant surge of 80%, while Nvidia’s shares also rose by more than 2%. This investment aims to leverage Nvidia’s AI computing chips and Recursion’s AI-powered models to revolutionize the identification and design of new therapies.
Recursion Pharmaceuticals, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, utilizes AI-powered models to identify and design new therapies. The company also offers these models to other drugmakers, including renowned names like Roche and Bayer. To train its AI models, Recursion utilizes its vast biological and chemical datasets, which currently exceed 23,000 terabytes. These datasets continue to expand rapidly, with hundreds of terabytes being added each week. Nvidia’s cloud platform will serve as the training ground for Recursion’s AI models.
Nvidia’s BioNeMo and Recursion’s Drug Pipeline
Nvidia’s collaboration with Recursion Pharmaceuticals extends beyond the investment. Recursion intends to utilize BioNeMo, Nvidia’s cloud service for generative AI in drug discovery, to support both its internal drug pipeline and those of its current and future partners. BioNeMo provides a platform for licensing AI models, potentially leading to groundbreaking advancements in the field of drug discovery.
Recursion Pharmaceuticals has five drugs currently undergoing human trials, with data readouts expected next year. Among these drugs is a potential treatment for a neurovascular disease caused by the malformation of small blood vessels in the brain, as well as a therapy targeting a specific type of ovarian cancer. Recursion’s CEO, Chris Gibson, expressed his optimism about the future of drug discovery through the integration of technology, automation, and cutting-edge tools in biology and chemistry.
This investment by Nvidia exemplifies the increasing trend of AI’s integration into the pharmaceutical industry. Recognizing AI’s potential to expedite the delivery of life-saving treatments, many drugmakers are embracing this revolutionary technology. Moderna, for instance, has already announced its plan to utilize AI in advancing its messenger RNA technology, which has played a crucial role in the development of Covid vaccines. Additionally, Google Cloud has introduced two AI-powered tools to assist biotech and pharmaceutical companies in accelerating drug discovery.
Nvidia, renowned for producing chips that power AI, stands as a notable beneficiary of the AI boom. The company achieved a market value of one trillion dollars in June, with its stock price surging by over 200% since the beginning of this year, largely driven by the soaring demand for AI. This investment in Recursion Pharmaceuticals further solidifies Nvidia’s commitment to this transformative technology.
Simultaneously, Recursion Pharmaceuticals is also intensifying its focus on AI. In May, the company acquired two AI-driven drug discovery companies for $87.5 million, indicating its dedication to advancing the field. With the combined efforts of Nvidia’s investment and Recursion’s expertise, the future of drug discovery appears promising, with the potential for accelerated progress and numerous breakthroughs in the coming years.
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