AI-discovered drugs show early promise but face mixed results in clinical trials

AI is being promoted as a way to cut the cost and time of drug research and development, which can exceed $2.6 billion and take up to 15 years.

Only a handful of AI‑identified compounds have entered human testing so far. Those that have reached Phase 1 appear to advance at a higher rate than traditional candidates, but it is unclear whether this advantage will continue in later stages.

The field has also seen notable setbacks, such as Verge Genomics’ ALS candidate VRG50635, which did not progress beyond an early‑stage trial.

Insilico Medicine remains a high‑profile player, securing multiple partnerships with large pharma firms and maintaining a pipeline of more than 40 programs across diverse therapeutic areas.