Big Idea:

Sanofi has entered into a partnership with Aqemia, a Paris-based startup specializing in quantum physics algorithms and generative AI for drug discovery. Sanofi plans to use Aqemia’s, spun out of École normale supérieure in 2019, tech to discover small molecules in various therapeutic areas.

Why It Matters:

The $140 million collaboration taps into the booming AI drug discovery market expected to reach $15.44 billion by 2032, ushering a new era of faster, more effective drug development.

Key Details:

• Aqemia's software predicts drug effectiveness in minutes, bypassing traditional experimental data requirements.
• The collaboration is part of a long-term strategy for Sanofi, extending their commitment to AI in pharmaceuticals with previous investments in similar ventures.

“This whole new step is about scaling our respective expertise to multiple projects and supporting Sanofi in discovering novel chemical matter at scale with our unique technology – including on difficult projects with limited chemical data upfront and hard issues like selectivity,” said Maximilien Levesque, Aqemia CEO and Co-founder.

The Bottom Line:

Sanofi continues to push the boundaries of drug discovery with more AI acquisitions.

By the Numbers:

• Over $5.2 billion is invested annually in AI-enabled drug discovery.
• Approximately USD 15.44 billion is projected for the AI drug discovery market by 2032.
• Aqemia's technology operates at a speed and accuracy 10,000 times greater than traditional methods.