Conférence 11 septembre 2025

Dr Franck Augé (Institut de Recherche et Développement Servier Paris-Saclay)

AI-Driven Paradigm Shift in Drug Discovery. A journey towards the future of pharmaceutical research

For over a century, pharmaceutical research has been grounded in the deterministic paradigm, where chemical & biological processes are understood and manipulated through predictable and explainable, cause-and-effect relationships. This approach has led to significant advancements in drug discovery, leveraging established methodologies to identify and develop therapeutic compounds. However, the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) introduces a transformative shift in this paradigm. AI, characterized by its ability to handle vast datasets and uncover patterns beyond human cognition, embraces the principles of non-determinism. This new approach allows for the exploration of complex biological systems, the prediction of drug-target interactions in ways previously unimaginable or the exploration of huge chemical spaces. As AI continues to evolve, it reshapes the landscape of drug discovery, offering unprecedented opportunities to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and innovation in developing new treatments.
Join us on a captivating journey through the evolving landscape of drug discovery, propelled by the power of AI. We will delve into the remarkable ways AI is transforming the processes of target identification, hit identification, lead optimization, as well as the integration of multimodal data to uncover biomarkers. Through these concrete examples, we will illustrate how AI is driving forward the future of pharmaceutical research.