A partnership has been announced between Moderna Inc. and IBM.
As part of the agreement, Moderna will investigate next-generation technologies like quantum computing and artificial intelligence to advance and accelerate messenger RNA (mRNA) research and science, according to an April 20 news release. Moderna is a biotechnology company that has led the way in developing mRNA therapeutics and vaccines.
“IBM’s purpose is to be the catalyst to make the world work better, perfectly exemplified by this partnership with Moderna. We are witnessing a revolution in the world of computing, driven by extraordinary advances in AI and quantum computing,” Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said in the release.
Bancel said since Moderna’s inception, the corporation has striven to be at the forefront of cutting-edge technology, according to the release. They work to deliver the greatest impact to people through mRNA medicines by leveraging innovations.
“We are excited to partner with IBM to develop novel AI models to advance mRNA science, prepare ourselves for the era of quantum computing and ready our business for these game-changing technologies,” she added, according to the release. “We are aiming for breakthrough advances with quantum computing, so we are investing now in building a quantum-ready workforce, to be fully prepared to harness the power of this technology.”
IBM Senior Vice President and Director of Research Dr. Darío Gil said Moderna will be able to take advantage of IBM’s multi-year research efforts in generative AI for therapeutics, the release reported. This research can enable scientists to better understand how molecules behave. He said it may facilitate creating entirely new ones.
“We are also excited to work with Moderna to help prepare their scientists in the knowledge and use of IBM’s industry-leading quantum computing technologies with the goal of accelerating the discovery and creation of new therapeutics,” Gil said in the release.
