“The space of potential molecules is gigantic” – says the head of computer-aided drug design at Johnson & Johnson

Insider Brief

• At the Pasqal Thoughts 2024 event, experts from Johnson & Johnson and Qubit Pharma discussed how quantum computing could revolutionize drug discovery by navigating vast chemical spaces and improving molecular simulations.
• The potential of quantum technology to improve both the accuracy and speed of understanding complex biological systems has been highlighted as critical to advancing drug development.
• The panel underlined the importance of collaboration between pharmaceutical companies and quantum computing experts to realize the full potential of this groundbreaking technology.

The Pasqal Thoughts 2024 event featured a fascinating panel discussion on the transformative impact of quantum computing on the pharmaceutical industry. Herman van Vlijmen from Johnson & Johnson and Robert Marino from Qubit Pharma shared their thoughts on how quantum technology could revolutionize drug discovery and development.

Van Vlijmen, head of Computer-Aided Drug Design at Johnson & Johnson, opened the discussion by describing the immense potential that quantum computers offer for early-stage drug discovery. “The space of potential molecules is gigantic,” he explained, noting that traditional methods are reaching their limits due to the sheer volume of possibilities. “We need a different solution if we really want to find the best starting points,” van Vlijmen added, emphasizing the need for more advanced computational tools to navigate this vast chemical space.

Marino, CEO of Qubit Pharma, echoed this view, focusing on the role of quantum computing in understanding complex biological systems.

“Having a clear understanding of the 3D structure and even the 4D structure of the protein you want to modulate is key,” Marino said. He described how Qubit Pharma is working with Pasqal to improve the positioning of water molecules in protein cavities, which could significantly impact the development of effective drugs. “We see quantum as the next frontier,” Marino explained, pointing to the limitations of current technologies and the opportunities presented by quantum computing.

Both experts agreed that a balance between accuracy and speed is crucial in drug discovery. “Accuracy is crucial,” Marino stressed, “but you also need speed because drug discovery involves big numbers.” Van Vlijmen agreed, adding: “Speed ​​is really important… but we cannot sacrifice accuracy because that would lead to wrong predictions and wasted resources.”

The panelists also discussed the energy efficiency of quantum computing compared to classical methods.

“We want efficient computing,” Marino noted, emphasizing the potential of quantum technology to reduce computational effort while maintaining high performance. Van Vlijmen pointed out that molecular simulations are particularly energy-intensive and slow, suggesting that quantum computing could offer significant improvements in this area.

At the end of the discussion, both experts emphasized the importance of collaboration in the further development of quantum applications in the pharmaceutical industry. “Collaboration is really a crucial aspect here, at least for us,” said van Vlijmen, underlining the need for partnerships between pharmaceutical companies and quantum computing experts.

As quantum technology continues to advance, its integration into pharmaceutical research and development could dramatically accelerate the discovery of new treatments and make future healthcare more efficient and precise.

Featured image: Source: Johnson & Johnson