BenevolentAI has acquired an exclusive licence for the novel clinical stage candidates, having first used its AI technology to assess their potential. It continues the firm's move into territory more often associated with IT heavyweights like Google and its DeepMind Health unit or IBM and its Watson technology. BenevolentAI's deal with J&J's Janssen Pharmaceutica NV company focuses on hard to treat diseases and will allow it to select a number of small molecule compounds, along with their patent portfolio. BenevolentAI will then have the sole right to develop, manufacture and commercialise these novel drug candidates in all indications and in all territories. The London-based firm said the agreement would enable it to accelerate its development pipeline and use its artificial intelligence technology to provide a rich source of clinical data.