Alphabet Launches AI Company To Discover New Drugs (ft.com) 17
Google owner Alphabet has launched an artificial intelligence company to discover new drugs. From a report: UK-registered Isomorphic Labs will use technology from its sister company DeepMind to "to accelerate drug discovery, and ultimately, find cures for some of humanity's most devastating diseases," said Demis Hassabis, the head of DeepMind, in a blog post. He added that he would also become the chief executive of Isomorphic Labs. Scientists around the world were awed in July when DeepMind unveiled how its AlphaFold2 technology could be used to predict the shape of every protein in the human body with almost perfect accuracy.
DeepMind's model can solve one of the trickiest problems in biology by taking a sequence of amino acids and mapping the twists and turns of its shape. The algorithm could help replace or enhance painstaking laboratory work to identify the structures of proteins, which dictate how they behave. Pharmaceutical companies and academic researchers are eager to use the tool -- which DeepMind has made available on an open source basis -- to discover new targets for drugs. Its speed could cut the time to discovering innovative treatments, although the process of clinical trials is still likely to take several years. DeepMind said it would use the technology to try to find treatments for Chagas disease and Leishmaniasis, two of the most deadly diseases in the world.
DeepMind's model can solve one of the trickiest problems in biology by taking a sequence of amino acids and mapping the twists and turns of its shape. The algorithm could help replace or enhance painstaking laboratory work to identify the structures of proteins, which dictate how they behave. Pharmaceutical companies and academic researchers are eager to use the tool -- which DeepMind has made available on an open source basis -- to discover new targets for drugs. Its speed could cut the time to discovering innovative treatments, although the process of clinical trials is still likely to take several years. DeepMind said it would use the technology to try to find treatments for Chagas disease and Leishmaniasis, two of the most deadly diseases in the world.
free drugs! (Score:3)
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Are they looking for volunteers to test these drugs?
You don't want to try their drugs. You won't be able to stop.
UK-registered Isomorphic Labs will use technology from its sister company DeepMind
Together these siblings are referred to internally at Alphabet as "The Sackler Family" . . .
. . . after those kind folks who brought us relief from pain with OxyContin . . .
AI will enable them to discover drugs that are even more addictive.
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AlphaFold2 helped create the COVID-19 vaccines. AI helped not kill people. That means it's good, right??? :-D
I want a new drug (Score:2)
Has the Singularity started yet ? (Score:2)
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As long as AI keeps giving us this [youtu.be], we're safe.
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The "singularity" is a deranged idea dreamed up by idiots that have no clue what they were talking about. It is not going to happen. (Yes, I am aware of the names supporting the idea and the originator of the term. Some have done great things. But they really should have stayed away from predictions about AI.)
If the drugs (Score:3, Funny)
Aren’t sold at Tractor Supply Company then I don’t want them.
Could? (Score:2)
" Scientists around the world were awed in July when DeepMind unveiled how
its AlphaFold2 technology could be used to predict the shape of every protein
in the human body with almost perfect accuracy."
Could? If it's so awesome, then what is DeepMind waiting for?
Stock options? A spot on the Board of Directors?
A nice place in West Atherton with clean, filtered AC?
Best tech (Score:2)
They'll probably invent the best tech ever. Then test it forever and fail to successfully bring it to market.
That's basically the Alphabet formula:
1. Idea
2. Pour money and brightest brains on it
3. (Try to) Profit!
4. Rely on Google Ad revenue
Screw health, show me the new psychedelics (Score:1)
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