We collaborated with the Medicines Discovery Catapult to evaluate the UK drug discovery sector's preparedness for AI integration; the output was used to develop a report for Innovate UK.

Through interviews with stakeholders across different sized drug discovery companies with varying levels of existing AI integration, we gained insights into the sector's current use of AI and the challenges faced in adopting AI in drug discovery. Key challenges identified included shortages of high-quality data, technical expertise, and infrastructure, compounded by resistance to change within the industry.

To gather further insights, we facilitated an advisory group meeting of drug discovery experts from academic spin‑outs and SMEs. This meeting resulted in a prioritised list of issues that the drug discovery industry will need to address, and yielded ideas for projects that MDC could initiate to overcome them and elevate the ability of the sector to gain value from AI.

The project should yield initiatives that make AI more accessible for SMEs in the drug discovery sector and enable more efficient and innovative drug discovery processes. 

“Nexcea expertly supported drafting our report for Innovate UK, which involved coordinating interviews with industry professionals. Their exceptional organisational skills, clear communication, and ability to navigate complex project requirements were instrumental in delivering a high-quality outcome. Nexcea's professionalism and efficiency made the entire process smooth and successful.” 

Dr Mark Pinches, Head of Informatics, Medicines Discovery Catapult