This week, Ross sits down with Mike Nally, CEO at Generate:Biomedicines, a pioneer in generative biology that is transforming the way medicines are developed. Mike joined the Data in Biotech podcast to discuss the AI-driven drug development landscape and how data is set to change the way every drug is made in the future.

Mike shares his journey to Generate:Biomedicines, motivated by the ambition to improve productivity and democratize the availability of drugs.

He discusses the latest in drug development trends, from how the availability of data accelerates what is possible to breakthroughs in de novo generation that allow proteins to be developed with unprecedented specificity. He shares how Generate innovates at each phase of AI-driven drug development and provides insight into Chroma, an open-source diffusion model, explaining how it allows scientists to push the boundaries of protein discovery.

Data in Biotech is a fortnightly podcast exploring how companies leverage data innovation in the life sciences. 

Chapter Markers

[1:21] Mike gives a quick rundown of his background and the route to his current role as CEO at Generate:Biomedicines.

[4:03] Mike discusses the changes in the availability of data to advance biotechnology.

[6:37] Mike explains the process of designing new proteins and where AI fits into this.

[11:12] Mike introduces Chroma, an open-source diffusion model from Generate:Biomedicines, and explains how it allows scientists to expand the natural universe of proteins.  

[16:12] Ross and Mike discuss the challenge of combining biology and computer training.  

[18:09] Mike gives his view on the current status of machine learning's role in biotech R&D and how this will evolve.

[21:05] Mike emphasizes the importance of human attention in AI-driven drug discovery and outlines how technological advancements require workflow innovation.

[26:13] Mike highlights teamwork, company culture, and ambition as key differentiators for Generate:Biomedicines.   

[28:05] Ross asks Mike his perspective on skepticism around AI-discovered drugs

[30:25] Mike shares updates on the two leading candidates coming out of Generate:Biomedicines.