Artificial Intelligence Cuts Costs and Speeds Up Drug Development in Russia
Neural networks are helping predict molecular toxicity and properties, reshaping how new medicines are created.
Russia’s Deputy Health Minister Sergey Glagolev has detailed how artificial intelligence is making the process of developing new drugs both faster and more affordable.
Neural networks now analyze scientific literature and predict potential toxicity points, as well as key risks and benefits associated with specific chemical compounds—accelerating the initial screening of molecules. AI tools also help forecast molecular properties at early stages of drug discovery, identifying compounds most likely to become effective medicines. Another crucial capability is protein structure prediction, which models interactions between proteins and human enzymes or receptors.
Next Step: AI-Powered Screening Systems
Glagolev added that national projects are advancing the integration of AI mechanisms into medical imaging and data analysis. These systems can operate in a “random findings” mode—spotting anomalies beyond the initial scope of study—making screening and diagnostics faster, more accurate, and significantly more efficient.
