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Eli Lilly teams up with OpenAI to fight AMR—another way AI could transform biotech. Plus, dengue is surging worldwide, and the CDC says it now threatens the U.S.—but biotech and One Health could help. (512 words, 2 minutes, 33 seconds) |
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Eli Lilly teams up with OpenAI to accelerate antimicrobial development |
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Eli Lilly announced it will collaborate with OpenAI to produce novel antimicrobials that can help fight antimicrobial resistance.
Why it matters: With superbugs linked to almost 5 million deaths annually, we need novel antimicrobial treatments to fight drug-resistant infections. However, the market for these drugs is broken.
Insufficient antimicrobial supply: A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report notes inadequate development of antibacterials. “The pipeline for antibiotics today is already inadequate to address the threats that we know about, without even considering the continuous evolution of these bugs,” Emily Wheeler, BIO’s Senior Director of Infectious Disease Policy, has said.
One possible solution: “Generative AI opens a new opportunity to accelerate the discovery of novel antimicrobials,” said Diogo Rau, EVP and Chief Information and Digital Officer at Eli Lilly.
The possibilities of AI in biotech are huge—including faster personalized therapies, higher-nutrient crops to counter food insecurity, and the creation of critical materials through fermentation, Dr. Jason Kelly, Ginkgo Bioworks co-founder and Chair of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, wrote in Bio.News.
What they’re saying: “Advanced AI has the potential to deliver innovative breakthroughs in pharma, and we’re committed to working together with industry leaders to deliver tangible benefits for patients,” said Brad Lightcap, COO of OpenAI. |
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Global dengue surge threatens the United States – but biotech can provide solutions
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It’s a perfect One Health storm: An ailing environment is increasing the range of dengue-bearing mosquitoes putting human health at risk.
The news: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that the record global incidence of dengue means increased risk in the U.S. As of Monday, countries in the Americas reported over 9.7 million dengue cases in 2024, more than double all of 2023.
Dengue is carried by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which also carry chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever. Their range has been increasing due to changing weather patterns. Dengue is often mild but can be deadly, especially for those who’ve been infected before.
We have vaccines—one approved in some U.S. regions for children already carrying dengue, and another in the EU. However, Brazil’s first public dengue vaccination campaign reportedly faces challenges.
Biotech can disarm mosquitoes. Infecting them with Wolbachia bacteria, found naturally in some insects (but not Aedes aegypti), prevents them from carrying dangerous viruses. Genetically engineered mosquitoes can reduce the population. BIO’s view: “Human health is closely intertwined with the health of the environment we live in and the animals who share that environment,” says Phyllis Arthur, BIO EVP and Head of Healthcare Policy and Programs. “We need to take the obvious step of addressing threats in any of these areas as an overarching, One Health problem.”
Biotech can play a role in One Health with synbio fertilizers, methane-reducing animal feed additives, plant-based proteins, and biobased fuels to reduce carbon emissions, among other solutions. |
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