Chinese scientists have launched an AI platform for drug discovery that dramatically reduces screening time from years to seconds. The system is expected to accelerate research for various diseases and public health crises.

China has unveiled an artificial intelligence platform for drug discovery that can screen a vast library of chemical compounds, cutting the initial drug screening phase from months or years down to tens of seconds. Developers said they expected the system to provide a novel method for identifying lead molecules to treat tumours, neurodegenerative conditions, rare diseases and emerging infectious diseases, as well as possibly speeding up drug research during public health crises. Called GalaxyVS,...