Novartis Collaborates with Microsoft for AI Innovation Lab

Novartis announced Microsoft will serve as its data-science partner for its new artificial intelligence (AI) innovation lab. The lab will work to strengthen Novartis’ research capabilities through commercialization and aid in accelerating the discovery and development of transformative medicines for patients, according to an Oct. 1, 2019 press release. 

The companies agreed to a multi-year research and development collaboration that will focus on AI empowerment by combining Novartis datasets with Microsoft’s advanced AI solutions to create new AI models and applications, and AI exploration to deal with generative chemistry, image segmentation, and analysis for delivery of therapies and optimization of cell and gene therapies at scale, according to the release. Overall, the investment will include project funding, subject-matter experts, technology, and tools.

“As Novartis continues evolving into a focused medicines company powered by advanced therapy platforms and data science, alliances like this will help us deliver on our purpose to reimagine medicine to improve and extend patients’ lives,” said Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis, in the press release. “Pairing our deep knowledge of human biology and medicine with Microsoft’s leading expertise in AI could transform the way we discover and develop medicines for the world.”

“Together, we aim to address some of the biggest challenges facing the life sciences industry today and bring AI capabilities to every Novartis employee so they can unlock new insights as they work to discover new medicines and reduce patient costs,” added Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO, in the press release. 

Source: Novartis