Novo Nordisk has entered into a collaboration with OpenAI to use artificial intelligence in the development of new medicines, according to the media outlet Il Fatto Alimentare.
The goal is both to discover new compounds and to make production more efficient, following previous issues with medicine supply.
The agreement comes at a time when competition in the obesity drug market is intensifying.
According to analyses, the market could reach very high valuations over the next ten years.
The company has previously implemented major cost-cutting measures, highlighting that the industry is undergoing change.
Technology in research
Researchers from Stanford Medicine have also used artificial intelligence to study how the body regulates appetite, publishing their findings in Nature.
They have identified a new peptide that can influence appetite without the side effects often seen in current treatments.
The research was based on existing knowledge of hormones that affect blood sugar and hunger.
Using a computer program, the scientists analyzed thousands of potential molecules.
They then tested the most promising candidates in the laboratory on brain cells that control hunger and satiety.
This method made it possible to identify relevant candidates more quickly than traditional approaches.
Animal trials
The most promising results were subsequently tested on animals such as mice and pigs.
These trials showed a significant reduction in food intake and an improvement in the body’s metabolism.
No clear side effects were observed in the experiments. At the same time, analyses indicated that the compound works differently from existing medications.
Sources: Il Fatto Alimentare, Stanford Medicine, and Nature.
