Novartis has announced that it is collaborating with Microsoft to create the Novartis AI innovation lab and has selected Microsoft as its strategic artificial intelligence (AI) and data-science partner. Novartis and Microsoft have committed to a multi-year research and development effort. Novartis says research activities will start with addressing personalized therapies for macular degeneration, cell and gene therapies, and drug design.

The new lab aims to expand Novartis’ AI capabilities from research through commercialization and to help accelerate drug discovery and development. This alliance will combine Novartis’ dataset with Microsoft’s AI solutions by aiming to create new AI models and applications that can augment the company’s associates’ capabilities. The alliance will also focus on AI exploration using AI to address computational challenges within life sciences, starting with generative chemistry, image segmentation and analysis for smart and personalized delivery of therapies and optimization of cell and gene therapies at scale.

The companies say the overall investment will include project funding, subject-matter experts, technology and tools. Joint research activities will include co-working environments on the Novartis Campus in Switzerland, at the Novartis Global Service Center in Dublin, Ireland, and at the Microsoft Research Lab in the UK.

Source: Novartis