J&J Halves Drug Lead Optimization Time with AI

Johnson & Johnson has deployed artificial intelligence to cut in half the time required to identify promising leads for new drug development, the company's chief information officer said Monday at an AI event in New York.

Jim Swanson, J&J's CIO, told attendees at the Reuters Momentum AI event that while fully discovering and commercializing products using AI remains years away, the technology excels at screening vast numbers of potential chemical compounds and biologics. "That's still a ways away, but we can optimize," Swanson said. "We've cut our lead optimization time in half."

The New Jersey-based pharmaceutical and medical device giant has prioritized AI applications in key areas, including product development, drug discovery and supply chain management. Swanson emphasized the urgency of these efforts amid ambitious goals. "We're trying to cure cancer," he said. "We need every tool that we can leverage to be able to do that."

Beyond research, J&J applies AI in manufacturing processes, such as determining the optimal timing and temperature for adding solvents during production. The company also uses the technology to dramatically accelerate regulatory compliance. Swanson noted...