Variational AI, developer of the Enki generative AI platform for drug discovery, announced a project with Merck Research Laboratories supported by the CQDM Quantum Leap program. Merck will evaluate Enki’s ability to generate novel small molecules on targets of their choosing.
 
“We are pleased to announce Merck as an early-access user of our Enki Platform,” said Handol Kim, CEO, Variational AI. “We built and trained Enki as a foundation model that generates novel, selective, and synthesizable lead-like structures. It designs novel molecules how other generative AI foundation models like DALL-E and Midjourney create novel images based on text prompts. In our case, a target product profile (TPP) is used as the series of prompts to describe the molecules in the language of chemistry. Enki then rapidly generates structures that meet the TPP.”
 
The collaboration is supported by CQDM under the Quantum Leap program. “CQDM is pleased to have facilitated the establishment of collaborations for Variational AI by creating beneficial links with Merck, a global biopharmaceutical organization. These links between early-stage Canadian companies and the biopharmaceutical industry are critical for the growth of the Canadian life sciences sector,” said Jesse Paterson, Senior Director, BD.