Washington [US], October 21 (ANI): OpenAI has acquired Orchestra Bio, a platform that helps biopharmaceutical companies coordinate drug development, as it looks to combine its artificial intelligence (AI) models with tools that manage the complex process of turning scientific discoveries into new medicines.

The acquisition will bring Orchestra Bio’s team and technology together with OpenAI’s Rosalind, a suite of AI models and tools designed for life sciences research. The combined platform aims to help scientists connect research findings with experiments, studies and decisions needed to advance potential treatments.

OpenAI said developing a new medicine takes roughly 10 to 15 years on average, from the discovery of a biological target to regulatory approval in the United States. The process involves multiple internal teams and external partners, often working across disconnected systems, creating challenges in coordinating research and development activities.

The company said AI could help manage these complex workflows and identify issues that may delay drug development.

Orchestra Bio allows scientists and programme leaders to work alongside AI agents that monitor and track studies and drug development activities. These agents can identify how a problem in one part of a programme could affect other stages, gather relevant information and compare possible responses.

For instance, a failed manufacturing batch could delay the start of a clinical trial. Orchestra’s agents can help identify the activities and timelines affected by such a setback, allowing scientists and programme leaders to assess their options and decide on the next steps.

OpenAI’s Rosalind platform includes GPT-Rosalind, which helps scientists work through questions in biology and chemistry, and Rosalind Workbench, which connects AI capabilities with scientific tools and data to support analysis and experiment planning.

The acquisition is aimed at extending AI’s role beyond research and analysis to the coordination of the work required to advance potential medicines.

OpenAI said its broader vision is to use AI across the drug development process, from exploring scientific ideas and designing experiments to interpreting results and coordinating subsequent steps.

The company also highlighted its work with Novo Nordisk and Moderna. Its partnership with Novo Nordisk aims to support faster research and development and commercial execution while maintaining governance, while AI is helping Moderna teams translate insights from complex data into experimental workflows.

OpenAI said bringing Orchestra Bio together with Rosalind was a step towards helping scientists make more discoveries and enabling promising medicines to reach patients sooner. (ANI)