Eli Lilly has launched TuneLab, an AI platform trained on its proprietary research to accelerate drug discovery, giving biotech companies access to advanced tools and fostering industry-wide collaboration. (Source: Image by RR)

FDA Push to Reduce Animal Testing Spurs Adoption of AI Drug Development Tools

Eli Lilly is opening its AI-powered drug discovery capabilities to smaller biotech firms. On Tuesday, the pharmaceutical giant unveiled TuneLab, an artificial intelligence and machine learning platform trained on years of Lilly’s proprietary research data—worth over $1 billion. The platform, as noted in finance.yahoo.com,  is designed to accelerate drug discovery and safety testing while reducing costs, aligning with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s push to move away from animal testing.

TuneLab offers biotech partners access to advanced drug discovery models. Lilly says the platform will function as an “equalizer,” allowing smaller companies to leverage the same AI tools used by Lilly’s scientists. Participating partners contribute training data to enhance the platform, creating a collaborative ecosystem. Early adopters include Circle Pharma, which will use TuneLab to develop cancer therapies, and insitro, which will build new AI models for small-molecule discovery.

The platform works with massive datasets for precise predictions. TuneLab analyzes experimental data representing hundreds of thousands of unique molecules to identify promising drug candidates more efficiently. This approach reflects a broader trend in pharma, where AI investment is expected to grow substantially—analysts at Jefferies previously estimated AI-related R&D spending could reach $30–40 billion by 2040.

Lilly’s move highlights the industry’s growing reliance on AI for innovation. By offering TuneLab as an open-access platform, the company positions itself as both a technology leader and a collaborator in the rapidly evolving biotech landscape. The effort aims to lower barriers for drug development and speed up breakthroughs that could transform treatments across multiple therapeutic areas.

read more at finance.yahoo.com