Sanofi, Formation Bio & OpenAI Partners for AI-Powered Drug Development

The partnership will leverage AI-powered software to streamline the drug development process potentially bringing new medicines to patients faster. 

Sanofi, Formation Bio, and OpenAI partners to accelerate drug development using artificial intelligence (AI). 

The partnership will leverage AI-powered software to streamline the drug development process, making it more efficient and potentially bringing new medicines to patients faster. 

Reportedly, this collaboration is the first in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries.

Per the deal, Sanofi will utilize its proprietary data to develop AI models, moving forward on its mission to become the first biopharma company powered by AI at scale. 

Sharing thoughts, Paul Hudson, CEO of Sanofi, said, "This unique collaboration is the next significant step in our journey to becoming a pharmaceutical company substantially powered by AI. Next-generation, first-of-its-kind AI model customizations will be an important foundation in our efforts to shape the future of drug development for pharma and the many patients waiting for innovative treatments."

OpenAI to Offer Advanced AI Capabilities

OpenAI, recognized globally for its AI technology, will contribute its advanced capabilities, including model fine-tuning and deep AI expertise. 

Commenting on the same, Brad Lightcap, COO of OpenAI, said, "There is massive potential for AI to accelerate drug development. We are excited to collaborate with Sanofi and Formation Bio to help patients and their families by bringing new medicines to market."

Formation Bio, an AI and tech-driven drug developer, will provide extensive engineering resources and its tech-driven development platform. 

The company, known for its innovative approach to drug development, aims to design, develop, and deploy AI technologies across all stages of the pharma lifecycle. 

On the partnership, Benjamine Liu, cofounder and CEO of Formation Bio, said, "I firmly believe that by combining our strengths, Sanofi, OpenAI, and Formation Bio can reimagine drug development in the pharma industry. By creating and implementing customized AI agents and models designed for our industry, companies like Sanofi and Formation Bio can begin to scale with unprecedented productivity and transform the pace at which we bring new medicines to patients."

By combining their data, AI technology, and engineering strengths, these companies aim to transform the market by developing new medicines that will ultimately benefit patients worldwide.

Sanofi’s Latest Collaborations 

Recently, Sanofi India launched Soliqua, a new drug in the Indian market to manage Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) last year, Soliqua is a once-daily injectable combination drug priced at INR 1850 per pen. This pricing strategy aims to improve access to diabetes management by making the medication more affordable for a larger population.

Additionally, Sanofi entered into an exclusive partnership with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories to enhance its healthcare offerings further. This collaboration aims to promote and distribute Sanofi’s vaccine brands across India. 

The portfolio of vaccine brands includes hexaxim and pentaxim, which are indicated for primary and booster vaccination of infants and toddlers against diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, and bacterial diseases caused by haemophilus influenzae.

Moreover, Sanofi India announced an exclusive distribution and promotion agreement with Emcure Pharmaceuticals focused on cardiovascular products. 

This partnership signifies a strategic collaboration aimed at enhancing the accessibility of essential cardiovascular medications to patients nationwide.

Under the agreement, Emcure Pharmaceuticals will immediately distribute Sanofi India’s brands, which include cardace, clexane, targocid, lasix, and lasilactone.