AI Pharma Deals: Bayer and AI Startups

So far, the pharmaceutical industry has contributed more to the well-being of humanity than any other industry. But lately its business model has been under significant pressure since the return on R&D investment has dropped to its lowest level in decades (lack of innovation amid digital disruption, rapid technological advances and other issues such as lack of data reproducibility) and its public reputation in US and around the world (anti vaccine movement in Europe) is worse than ever. This worrisome mix of little growth potential and low reputation is the main reason why investors are increasingly worried, not to mention that the current drug development process needs a big dose of digital innovation to deal with its messy data. As a matter of fact, Stefan Oelrich member of the Board Management of Bayer AG, President Pharmaceuticals, wrote in an article -- that the title perfectly summarises the AI pharma situation "Artificial Intelligence - When we Suddenly Know What we Don't Know" -- the following: "As we open the first doors in this unknown land we start to discover how much more is out there for our entire pharmaceutical value chain spanning from research to product supply. I expect AI to help us know what we have not known so far. Artificial Intelligence will become instrumental in our search for new medicines to better serve patients around the world as we leverage Science For A Better Life".