AI-driven drug discovery picks up as FDA pushes to reduce animal testing

FILE PHOTO: Robot miniature and words 'Pharmaceutical Development - AI Artificial Inteligence' are seen in this illustration taken, July 17, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

(Reuters) -Drug developers are increasing adoption of AI technologies for discovery and safety testing to get faster and cheaper results, in line with an FDA push to reduce animal testing in the near future.

Within the next three to five years, using AI and cutting back on animal testing could reduce timelines and costs by at least half, according to 11 different experts from across contract research firms, biotech companies and brokerages.