Most people think quantum computers are still purely experimental machines locked in physics labs. But in 2026, pharmaceutical companies are quietly using quantum simulations to tackle a problem classical computers can't solve: modeling complex protein-ligand interactions for drug development. Lucas breaks down how Roche and Pfizer are running hybrid quantum-classical workflows, why a 50-qubit machine can outperform a supercomputer on this specific task, and what the FDA's recent guidance on quantum-assisted clinical data means for the industry. Luna questions whether the results are real enough to change how drugs reach patients, and they both examine the sobering reality that quantum drug discovery still needs thousands of logical qubits before it delivers blockbuster therapies. A grounded look at where the quantum promise meets actual pharmaceutical R&D today.

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