D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) and the pharmaceutical division of Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) have announced a collaboration on a proof-of-concept project aimed at accelerating drug discovery using quantum computing and artificial intelligence . The initiative, called “Quantum AI-driven Drug Discovery,” aims to improve the speed and quality of pharmaceutical small molecule development through the use of D-Wave’s annealing quantum computing technology.

In this project, JT's AI team will leverage D-Wave's quantum computing solutions to improve the efficiency of training AI systems for drug development. The aim is to develop a breakthrough approach to discover first-in-class pharmaceutical compounds, expand the research space in drug design and address challenges in drug development.

Dr. Masaru Macheno, Chief Scientific Officer of JT's Pharmaceutical Research Center, highlighted the potential of D-Wave's quantum technology in advancing its AI-driven drug discovery systems with the expectation of setting a new standard in pharmaceutical research. The CEO of D-Wave, Dr. Alan Baratz, emphasized the company's commitment to supporting JT's efforts by maximizing the capabilities of AI with quantum computing.

Further details can be found in the original press release here.

October 1, 2024