This new development is all thanks to artificial intelligence. Well, to be specific, thanks to the explosion of text-to-image models, also known as diffusion models (such as the OpenAI’s DALL-E 2 diffusion model) are being used to create new types of drugs.
For reference, this kind of generative AI is used to create new designs for proteins that have never been seen before. This is done by providing the model with a random mess of pixels, which it will try to turn into an image.
Multiple biotech labs have announced their embarkment into using these models. One of them is the Boston-based startup Generate Biomedicines which created a new diffusion model called Chroma. According to the company, their program is the “DALL-E 2 of biology.” So we expect that it sort of operates the same way as the mentioned diffusion model.
But why are these establishments focused on protein creation for drugs? Well, it’s because these components are in charge of a lot of bodily functions. They digest food, contract muscles, detect light, drive the immune system, and so much more. Proteins also play a big part in driving ailments out of the body.
The promise in finding new protein structures that can help the body is immense, according to Gevorg Grigoryan, CEO of Generate Biomedicines. He also hopes that AI can help them discover more in minutes, which can speed up the production and creation of new medicine.
Image credit: Generate Biomedicines
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