STAT+: Drug metabolism AI competition results show that bigger may not always be better

STAT PlusBiotech Drug metabolism AI competition results show that bigger may not always be better Inductive Bio won the competition, but a 28-way statistical tie shows that data may be more important than model Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Brittany TrangJuly 14, 2026 Health Tech Reporter Brittany Trang[email protected]Brittany Trang, Ph.D., covers AI in health and medicine: Does it actually work? Who benefits, or might be harmed? She writes the weekly AI Prognosis newsletter. Follow her on Threads, Mastodon, and Bluesky. You can reach Brittany on Signal at btrang.01. In 2020, the CASP competition vaulted AlphaFold to prominence and a Nobel Prize. But the era of people being impressed by an artificial intelligence model correctly predicting the structure of a protein — once a challenge many experts didn’t think would be solved in their lifetime — is over. Now drug developers want AI that can solve their big problems, like discerning whether the body is going to attack a drug candidate and render it useless. One such example is the pregnane X receptor, or PXR. When activated, PXR increases the production of an enzyme that specifically breaks down foreign organic molecules — such as drug molecules — so the body can dispose of them. The specific enzyme that PXR regulates can metabolize approximately 50% of all marketed drugs. Advertisement Most drug development campaigns only discover whether candidates trip this sensor late in the game, forcing drug developers to go back to the drawing board. But if an AI model could reliably predict whether a given drug candidate will activate the PXR receptor, it could fix a lot of problems that present hurdles for new potential drugs, including the drug exiting the body too fast or creating drug–drug interactions. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus daily coverage and analysis of the biotech sector — by subscribing to STAT+. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, drug development, STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints Brittany Trang Health Tech Reporter Brittany Trang, Ph.D., covers AI in health and medicine: Does it actually work? Who benefits, or might be harmed? She writes the weekly AI Prognosis newsletter. Follow her on Threads, Mastodon, and Bluesky. You can reach Brittany on Signal at btrang.01. Newsletter Understand how science, health policy, and medicine shape the world every day Recommended Health July 13, 2026 STAT Plus: Dementia study replicates promising outcomes following risk-reduction strategies The Readout July 13, 2026 STAT Plus: All eyes on data on Biogen’s tau therapy Advertisement Biotech July 13, 2026 STAT Plus: A breakthrough in pancreatic cancer has experts excited — and braced for what’s to come Biotech July 12, 2026 STAT Plus: Tau in the spotlight at Alzheimer’s conference The Readout July 10, 2026 STAT Plus: Roche ends Huntington’s gene-silencing programs Subscriber Picks