Novartis, Microsoft partner to use artificial intelligence in drug research - MedCity News

A large Swiss drugmaker and a technology giant will work together to use data and artificial intelligence to speed drug discovery and development. Basel, Switzerland-based Novartis and Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft said Tuesday that the alliance between the two companies would enable employees at Novartis to find insights in large amounts of data. It would also allow data scientists from Microsoft Research and Novartis' own research teams to use AI to find new approaches to personalized medicine for macular degeneration, manufacture of cell and gene therapies and shorten the time to design new drugs. The companies are referring to the two objectives as AI Empowerment and AI Exploration. "As Novartis continues evolving into a focused medicines company powered by advanced therapy platforms and data science, alliances like this will help us deliver on our purpose to reimagine medicine to improve and extend patients' lives," Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan said in a statement.