Novartis(SWX: NOVN), a multinational pharmaceutical company based in Basel, Switzerland, is launching an AI innovation lab to enable its associates to use AI across the business.
The company selected Microsoft Corp. as its strategic AI and data-science partner. The new lab aims to bolster Novartis AI capabilities from research through commercialization and accelerate the discovery and development of transformative medicines for patients worldwide.
As part of the strategic collaboration, Novartis and Microsoft have committed to a multi-year research and development effort. The lab will bring AI to Novartis associates. By bringing together vast amounts of Novartis datasets with Microsoft’s advanced AI solutions, it will create new AI models and applications that can augment associates’ capabilities to take on the next wave of challenges in medicine.
The lab will use AI to tackle hard computational challenges within the life sciences, starting with generative chemistry, image segmentation & analysis for smart and personalized delivery of therapies, and optimization of cell and gene therapies at scale.
Microsoft and Novartis will also collaborate to develop and apply next-generation AI platforms and processes that support future programs across these two focus areas. The overall investment will include project funding, subject-matter experts, technology, and tools.
Joint research activities will include co-working environments on Novartis Campus (Switzerland), at Novartis Global Service Center in Dublin, and at Microsoft Research Lab (UK) – starting with tackling personalized therapies for macular degeneration; cell & gene therapy; and drug design
Basel, and Redmond.
.