French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi is set to collaborate with OpenAI, the U.S. developer of artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT, to build AI-powered software to accelerate drug development.

The companies would also team up with the U.S. pharmaceutical group Formation Bio to research the potential positive impacts of AI on patients waiting for new treatments.

Under the deal, the companies would combine data, software, and tuned models to develop custom, purpose-built solutions across the drug development lifecycle.

Sanofi said it would leverage the partnership to provide access to proprietary data, develop AI models, and become the first biopharma company powered by AI at scale.

Furthermore, OpenAI, which tech giant Microsoft backs, would contribute access to cutting-edge AI capabilities, including the ability to fine-tune models, deep AI expertise and dedicated thought partnerships and resources.

Formation Bio would provide extensive engineering resources and experience operating at the intersection of pharma and AI.

Sanofi chief executive Paul Hudson said, “This unique collaboration is the next significant step in our journey to becoming a pharmaceutical company substantially powered by AI.

“Next generation, first-of-its-kind AI model customisations will be an important foundation in our efforts to shape the future of drug development for pharma and the many patients waiting for innovative treatments.”

Last week, OpenAI entered a deal with social media company Reddit to bring its content to ChatGPT and its products.

OpenAI also agreed to become a Reddit advertising partner. 

(dpa/NAN)