Alex Zhavoronkov, CEO of Insilico Medicine, discussed the company's recent business approach and partnerships during an interview at the BIO International Convention in San Diego on Aug. 11. Zhavoronkov described how Insilico has made its clinical programs accessible online to streamline the partnering process, likening it to shopping for software or gifts.
Zhavoronkov said, “You can make a deal or two to keep lights running, but the reality of life is that pharma companies are also very competent in AI.” He explained that Insilico focuses on providing high-quality assets at scale and has secured multiple multi-billion dollar partnerships this year with companies such as Eli Lilly, Takeda, Exelixis, and Boehringer Ingelheim.
The company’s strategy involves partnering its programs in the preclinical stage rather than becoming a clinical or commercial company. Zhavoronkov said, “If any startup, or whoever, tells you that they are better than pharma in clinical trials using AI, absolute nonsense,” adding that pharmaceutical companies have advantages in trial operations and regulatory engagement.
A notable partnership announced at the start of the BIO conference was with China’s SK Biopharmaceuticals. The deal could be worth up to $2.5 billion in milestones and reflects Insilico’s presence in Hong Kong and Shanghai. The company has shifted some new programs toward what Zhavoronkov called “low to moderate novelty space,” which he said helped secure major agreements like a $2.75 billion transaction with Eli Lilly focused on oral drugs for undisclosed diseases.
Zhavoronkov described his busy schedule at BIO alongside his colleagues: “We are now on fire. I had to run here, and I will have to run out of here because we are basically the ultimate AI drug dealer, so to speak.” He noted that if buyers could not meet with staff directly due to scheduling conflicts during the convention, they could use Insilico’s new AI chatbot for business inquiries.
Concluding his remarks about ongoing efforts at BIO and future plans for Insilico Medicine's growth through partnerships and technology innovation, Zhavoronkov said, “You haven’t seen anything yet.”
