Novo Nordisk Partners with OpenAI to Accelerate Drug Development

Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk has announced a partnership with OpenAI to accelerate the discovery and development of new therapies for patients, CNBC reports.

The collaboration will allow the company to use artificial intelligence to analyze complex datasets, discover new drug candidates, and shorten the time from scientific discovery to actual patient application.

“There are millions of people living with obesity and diabetes who need new treatment options, and we know there are therapies yet to be discovered that could change their lives,” said Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar.

“Integrating artificial intelligence into our daily work enables us to analyze data at a scale previously impossible, discover patterns we haven’t seen, and test hypotheses faster than ever before,” he added.

For his part, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasized the importance of the technology for the sector: “Artificial intelligence is transforming industries, and in life sciences, it can help people live longer and better lives.”

Following the news, Novo Nordisk shares rose by approximately 2.8% in early trading.

The partnership comes at a time when pharmaceutical companies are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to optimize their processes and shorten drug development timelines.

However, experts note that the industry is still far from fully utilizing the technology’s potential. In the short term, the greatest benefits may come from its application in areas such as patient selection and clinical trial site identification.

“There is still much to be developed—especially regarding how clinical trials are designed and conducted. Currently, many processes remain traditional,” commented Ben van der Schaaf, a partner at the consulting firm Arthur D. Little.

The new partnership builds on Novo Nordisk’s existing AI initiatives, including its collaboration with the technology company NVIDIA. As part of this, the company uses the Gefion supercomputer to develop specialized AI models for scientific research and clinical development.

The deal also comes amid intensified competition with the American company Eli Lilly for leadership in the weight-loss drug market. Novo Nordisk is attempting to regain its position through new products, including the tablet form of Wegovy, as well as the development of next-generation therapies.