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Eli Lilly, Nvidia partner to build supercomputer, AI factory for drug discovery and development
CNBCยท2025-10-28 18:30

Core Insights - Eli Lilly and Nvidia are collaborating to create the pharmaceutical industry's most powerful supercomputer and AI factory to enhance drug discovery and development [1][2] - The partnership aims to reduce the time and costs associated with bringing new drugs to market, which typically takes about 10 years [2] - Eli Lilly expects the supercomputer and AI factory to be operational by January 2026, with significant benefits anticipated by 2030 [3] AI and Drug Discovery - The pharmaceutical industry's use of AI is still in its early stages, with no AI-designed drugs currently on the market, but there is progress in AI-discovered drugs entering clinical trials [4] - The supercomputer will utilize over 1,000 Nvidia Blackwell Ultra GPUs, creating a high-speed network to support AI model development for drug discovery [5] - Eli Lilly's Chief AI Officer described the supercomputer as a novel scientific instrument that will enable unprecedented scale in drug discovery [6] Opportunities and Platforms - The new tools will focus on discovering new molecules, which is seen as a significant opportunity for the industry [7] - Eli Lilly launched the Lilly TuneLab platform to provide biotech companies access to AI models trained on its proprietary research, valued at $1 billion [7][8] - The TuneLab platform employs federated learning, allowing companies to utilize AI models without directly sharing data [9] Precision Medicine - The company aims to support researchers with new AI agents and advanced medical imaging to develop new biomarkers for personalized care [10] - Precision medicine is a key goal, tailoring treatment based on individual genetic and lifestyle differences, which requires a robust AI infrastructure [11]