Amazon launches its AI drug discovery platform

 Amazon has pitched an AI-powered drug discovery platform to the biopharma industry that it says brings together computational methods and wet-lab workflows into a single application and can slash research time for new medicines.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) said the 'lab-in-the-loop' platform – dubbed Amazon Bio Discovery (ABD) – is launching with more than 40 AI biological foundation models, agentic assistants to help select the best models for research projects and interpret results, and a network of contract research organisation (CRO) partners to carry out wet-lab experiments whose results can be fed back into the system and guide the next design stages.

It deploys a four-stage process, starting with the evaluation of models and building of an in silico workflow, and followed by assistant-led experimental design, analysis of computational results, and transfer of the most promising candidates to wet labs operated by Ginkgo Bioworks, Twist Bioscience, or A-Alpha Bio for validation. Users can access the AI model library, upload their own custom models, or use third-party tools.

The launch marks an acceleration of AWS's efforts to provide services and tools for drug developers, building on other initiatives like its HealthOmics analysis platform and HealthLake service for identifying patient cohorts for clinical trials.

It also puts the company in competition with other tech giants offering AI-powered drug discovery, like NVIDIA, Alphabet/Isomorphic Labs, and OpenAI, which has just signed a strategic-level alliance with Novo Nordisk.

One factor that could help AWS break into the category is its established presence in providing enterprise-level cloud services, including to 19 of the top 20 pharma multinationals, on which the ABD platform is built.

Rajiv Chopra, vice president of healthcare AI and life sciences at AWS, told Reuters that Amazon Bio Discovery is already being put through its paces at Bayer, the Broad Institute, and Voyager Therapeutics.

A project at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has validated the platform, generating 100,000 antibody candidates that could be sent for wet-lab testing in a matter of weeks, as described in this white paper.

In a blog post, AWS' Ryan Green and Jiwon Kim write that ABD "makes lab-in-the-loop accessible and scalable across your entire research organisation."

They add: "Lab-in-the-loop drug discovery shouldn't take time away from science. It should be accessible to everyone doing the science, whether you're designing the computational workflows or running the experiments that test your hypotheses."

https://pharmaphorum.com/news/amazon-launches-its-ai-drug-discovery-platform

Takeda continues to prune partnerships, cuts ties with mRNA-targeting Veritas In Silico

 

After divorcing Denali Therapeutics earlier this month, Takeda is now splitting up with Veritas In Silico, pulling back from a partnership that advanced novel small-molecule drugs targeting mRNA.

Takeda is ending its engagement with Veritas In Silico, continuing a recent pattern of the Japanese pharma trimming its roster of collaborators.

The Veritas In Silico (VIS) partnership, which aimed to advance novel small-molecule drugs targeting mRNA, officially ended on April 13, according to a news release that same day. “While the Research had yielded certain results to date, following discussions with Takeda and VIS, the Research shall be terminated amicably,” the biotech said, though it did not provide specific reasons for the termination.

Takeda and VIS will continue to discuss the potential future applications of the findings generated from the partnership, according to the press announcement.

“While we would refrain from commenting on the details of individual research activities, we believe that the approximately three years of joint drug discovery research to date have provided us concrete learnings,” a Takeda spokesperson told Fierce Biotech on Tuesday, confirming that the split was VIS had been amicable.

Takeda and VIS linked up in June 2023. Details of their arrangement are scarce. Financial terms were undisclosed and the companies did not specify what indications they planned to work on.

Takeda’s decision to walk away from VIS comes just over a week after it broke up with Denali Therapeutics, handing back the rights to a brain-penetrant protein replacement therapy for frontotemporal dementia. The asset, dubbed DNL593, is in a Phase 1/2 study that has wrapped up enrollment with 40 patients, Denali said at the time.

The biotech will continue to advance DNL593 independently, with initial data expected before year-end, CEO Ryan Watts said in an April 3 news release.

In addition, Takeda pulled back from cell therapy development last October, laying off 137 employees and moving to offload its platform to an unnamed external partner. The pharma over the years had built up its cell therapy capabilities, including acquiring Adaptate Biotherapeutics and GammaDelta, as well as partnering with Immusoft and Alloy Therapeutics.

Takeda hasn’t just been cutting off collaborators, however; it’s also been adding them. The same month as its cell therapy exit, the Japanese pharma put up to $11.4 billion on the line to work with China’s Innovent on three next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for various cancers. A week earlier, Takeda entered into a multi-year engagement with Nabla Bio to use the biotech’s AI engine to fill out its early-stage pipeline. Takeda allotted more than $1 billion for that partnership.

https://www.biospace.com/business/takeda-continues-to-prune-partnerships-cuts-ties-with-mrna-targeting-veritas-in-silico

Lilly’s new obesity pill linked to ‘serious’ safety signals, FDA requests more data

 

The FDA is asking Eli Lilly to submit cardiovascular and liver safety data from an ongoing Phase 3 trial of Foundayo by July.

Eli Lilly’s newly approved oral obesity drug Foundayo has already run into a speedbump after the FDA detected safety risks affecting the heart and liver—signals that the regulator found serious enough to necessitate a postmarketing clinical trial.

“We have determined that only a clinical trial (rather than a nonclinical or observational study) will be sufficient to assess” these risks, the agency wrote in its approval letter for Foundayo, issued April 1. The FDA in particular zeroed in on “retained gastric contents” as well as “unexpected” cases of major adverse cardiovascular events and drug-induced liver injury (DILI).

Lilly is already running the Phase 3 ACHIEVE-4 trial of daily Foundayo in patients with type 2 diabetes who are obese or overweight and are at heightened cardiovascular risk. The FDA in its letter asked that the study also assess DILI. ACHIEVE-4’s estimated completion date was last month, and the agency expects a final report by July.

Aside from the cardiovascular and liver assessments, the FDA in its letter asked Lilly to conduct a slew of other postmarketing studies directed at other safety outcomes, including Foundayo’s impact on pregnancy and child development and potential risks of thyroid cancer.

BioSpace has reached out to Lilly for its statement on the matter.

While the FDA classified these signals as “serious,” analysts at BMO Capital Markets told investors in a note on Tuesday that the agency’s requests “appear manageable.” Asking Lilly to run several postmarketing trials is “notable,” the firm conceded, but “we do not expect these studies to have any meaningful impact on the competitive positioning” of Foundayo.

“We view this as a reflection of conservatism from FDA,” BMO analysts continued, framing the requested trials as a positive for Foundayo. “Over time, successful completion of these studies would further de-risk the asset and continue to support broad confidence in oral, small molecule incretin therapies.”

The FDA signed off on Foundayo on April 1, restarting the heated rivalry between Lilly and Novo Nordisk, this time in the oral arena. The Danish drugmaker was first to the field with its Wegovy pill, which the regulator approved late last year, but many analysts expect Foundayo to put up a considerable challenge.

For starters, Foundayo is a small-molecule drug, which is easier and faster to produce that the peptide Wegovy, potentially giving Lilly a step up in supply chain over Novo. The manufacturing advantage “could be potentially influential in the fight for the oral obesity market,” BMO’s Evan Seigerman told BioSpace in August 2025.

Lilly looks poised to press this advantage. Even before Foundayo’s approval, the pharma had prepared a stockpile of the drug worth $1.5 billion, ready for launch. Investors are now turning their focus to the pharma’s first-quarter earnings call on April 30 for updates on how the drug is rolling out, BMO said on Tuesday.

https://www.biospace.com/fda/lillys-new-obesity-pill-linked-to-serious-safety-signals-fda-requests-more-data

After Orbán Loss, Polish MEP Warns EU To "Subjugate Everything, Everyone", VDL To Abolish Veto

 Via Remix News,

On the back of Péter Magyar’s victory in Hungary, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the EU needs to work on getting rid of member states’ veto powers.

For many who backed Viktor Orbán, one of their greatest fears was exactly what von der Leyen is now advancing: an unconstrained EU able to take action on foreign policy, health, and migration without the threat of a veto.

It is widely assumed that the incoming prime minister of Hungary will seek a fast resolution of Brussels’ key issues with Hungary in order to unlock some €35 billion in funding. While Magyar is still seen as right of center and has already insisted border protection will remain a top priority, he has also made it clear that he will work to build a more constructive relationship with Brussels and make Hungary more a part of the European community.

One way Viktor Orbán previously served as a constant thorn in the side of other member states was via use of the veto power, namely to block aid to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia.

Over the past four years, Hungary’s constant blocking of EU measures drove many to suggest a move to qualified majority voting.

Now, with Magyar’s win and Orbán gone, von der Leyen says the “momentum” is here to make that move.

“Moving to qualified majority voting in foreign policy is an important way to avoid systemic blockages, as we have seen in the past,” she said.

She urged governments, which would have to agree to any change, to “use the momentum now,” she told press yesterday.

She also made it clear that “Hungary is coming back to the European path.”

One conservative Polish MEP from the New Hope party posted her reaction that the Commission president was losing no time in burying member state rights to oppose EU initiatives.

“For the EU’s pseudo-elites, it’s secondary whether the new Hungarian government of Orbán will buy fewer raw materials from Russia or quickly rubber-stamp the next sanctions. The main goals of the Eurocrats are different—barely have the elections wrapped up, and the EC President is already champing at the bit to push the topic of abolishing the veto right for Poland in foreign policy matters,” wrote Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik.

“Subjugate everything and everyone, create mechanisms that turn countries like Poland into just another insignificant province. All wrapped in the sweet packaging of delightful slogans about unity with everyone,” she added, emphasizing the importance of future member state elections.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/after-orban-loss-polish-mep-warns-eu-set-subjugate-everything-and-everyone-vdl-moves

Europe Drafts Pie In The Sky Plan To Free Up Hormuz Without 'Belligerent' Parties

 This is quite the ambitious headline revealing the latest 'plan' for Hormuz to come out of Europe, as it sits on the sidelines watching the US get potentially bogged down in the region following a month of heavy airstrikes on Iran: Europe drafts postwar plan to free up Strait of Hormuz without US, WSJ reports.

This is apparently a plan for after the main crisis is over, amid the strait still being blockaded (with the each warring side insisting it is they in control of the strategic chokepoint waterway). It seems the main idea is to eventually take the United States out of the equation, allowing only for the 'neutral' countries to free up and clean the Hormuz Strait.

Both the Iranians & Americans still step aside & tiny French warships will move in?

But the whole thing is very strange - on the one hand, it purports to keep one of the key belligerents, namely the United States, at bay - while on the other envisioning European/NATO military ships engaged in freedom navigation operations, including some mine-clearing.

For example, there is this line from the Journal report: "French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday the plan is for an international defensive mission that doesn't include the 'belligerent' parties, meaning the US, Israel and Iran. European diplomats familiar with the plan say European ships wouldn't be under American command."

According to a Newsquawk summary of the WSJ main highlights: 

—European countries are putting together a plan for a broad coalition of countries to help free up shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, including sending mine-clearing and other military vessels. But the plan would only come after the war and may exclude the US.

—Some differences must still be worked: French diplomats think that any US involvement in the operation would make it less palatable to Tehran, while British officials worry that not including the Americans will anger Trump and limit the operation's scope.

—The plan has three broad aims:

1) put logistics in place to ensure the hundreds of ships currently stuck in the strait can leave.

2) Employ a major demining operation to clear the way for a far larger number of ships to use a broader part of the strait.

3) Removing Iranian mines in Hormuz is crucial to getting ships going again.

The reality is that this supposed plan brings things back full circle to problem #1... as it's not as if either Iran, or the United States, will simply shrug and cede control so that a European military coalition can step in and take over.

Which side will ever actually agree to this? The obvious answer, at least for the time being and foreseeable future is... nobody.

And then there's the question of what leverage or force will Europe employ to assert its military presence in the strait in order to keep all parties in line... some mere harsh language and strong words?

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/europe-drafts-pie-sky-plan-free-hormuz-without-belligerent-parties

Trump: Xi told me China won't send weapons to Iran

 United States President Donald Trump told Fox Business in an interview published on Wednesday that he sent a letter to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to ask him not to send weapons to Iran, and stated that the Chinese president wrote him back saying "he's not doing that."

The US president also said that he received "no pushback" from either China or Saudi Arabia on his decision to impose a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz and that the reaction to the blockade has been "pretty amazing." He said that he thinks that oil will not change the dynamic of the next month's meeting with Xi.

When asked about the effect of the Iran war on the economic growth, Trump noted that "there's a hit" but that it is going to recover "fully," adding that the oil prices will also drop back to their previous levels after the war is done, which he said could be "very soon."

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Trump:-Xi-told-me-China-won't-send-weapons-to-Iran/66073949

UK to send 120,000 drones to Ukraine this year

 The United Kingdom unveiled on Wednesday its largest-ever drone shipment for Ukraine, supplying over 120,000 unmanned aircraft this year to counter Russian advances. The package includes long-range strike, reconnaissance, and maritime drones, with some deliveries already underway.

"In the fifth year of Putin's brutal war, the UK is stepping up further and providing the highest ever number of drones for Ukraine this year … This big boost of battle-proven drones will give Ukrainian forces the capability they need to defend their people and fight back against Russian aggression," Defence Secretary John Healey said.

Most investment will go to British firms like Tekever, Windracers and Malloy Aeronautics, boosting UK jobs.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/UK-to-send-120000-drones-to-Ukraine-this-year/66073908