Two tech giants, Boehringer Ingelheim and IBM, are collaborating to advance generative AI and foundation models for therapeutic antibody development. This partnership aims to expedite the antibody discovery process, crucial in treating various diseases, by using innovative AI technology.
According to a press release by IDM, Boehringer Ingelheim and IBM have signed an agreement to use IBM's foundation model technologies to discover novel candidate antibodies for the development of efficient therapeutics. Boehringer will use an IBM-developed, pre-trained AI model fine-tuned on additional proprietary data. The partnership aims to accelerate the antibody discovery process through in-silico methods, based on the sequence, structure, and molecular profile information of disease-relevant targets and success criteria for therapeutically relevant antibody molecules. The methods rely on IBM foundation model technologies, designed to increase the speed and efficiency of antibody discovery and the quality of predicted antibody candidates. Therapeutic antibodies are crucial in treating various diseases, including cancer, autoimmune, and infectious diseases.
This ground-breaking partnership has stirred excitement within both organizations. "We are very excited to collaborate with the research team at IBM, who share our vision of making in silico biologic drug discovery a reality," said Andrew Nixon, Global Head of Biotherapeutics Discovery at Boehringer Ingelheim according to the press release. "I am confident that by joining forces with IBM scientists we will develop an unprecedented platform for accelerated antibody discovery which will enable Boehringer to develop and deliver new treatments for patients with high unmet need."
According to the press release, IBM, a global provider of hybrid cloud and AI, helps clients in over 175 countries streamline business processes, reduce costs, and gain a competitive edge in their industries. With over 4,000 government and corporate entities relying on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift, the company offers innovative solutions in AI, quantum computing, and industry-specific cloud solutions. Boehringer Ingelheim is a leading biopharmaceutical company that focuses on developing breakthrough therapies to address high unmet medical needs. Founded in 1885, it has over 53,000 employees serving over 130 markets.
