Merck and Mayo Clinic Partner on AI-Driven Drug Discovery for Autoimmune Diseases

Merck & Co. Inc. announced on Wednesday a strategic collaboration with Mayo Clinic to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced analytics in drug discovery. This partnership aims to enhance the development of tailored therapies for high-need therapeutic areas.

Under this agreement, Merck will utilize Mayo Clinic's extensive multimodal data, including laboratory results and clinical insights, to validate AI models and improve drug development strategies. The partnership will meld clinical insights from Mayo Clinic Platform, the health system's digital health and data analytics arm, with Merck's AI-enabled virtual cell technologies.

The partnership will initially focus on high-need therapeutic areas, where advanced analytics can drive progress in developing more effective therapies, including inflammatory bowel disease, atopic dermatitis, and multiple sclerosis.

This collaboration marks Mayo Clinic's first strategic partnership of this scale with a global biopharmaceutical company, reflecting a significant step in integrating clinical data with AI capabilities.

The CEO stated in a Feb. 18 news release that by combining Mayo Clinic Platform's deidentified data, clinical expertise and Platform technology with Merck's world-class research and development capabilities, the organizations are poised to speed innovative breakthroughs to patients and redefine drug development. The collaboration represents a new present and future for healthcare — one where platform-based collaboration leads to more answers, more cures and better outcomes for patients worldwide.

Merck shares were down 0.81% at $120.59 at the time of publication on Wednesday. The stock is approaching its 52-week high of $123.33. Shares have increased 45.96% over the past 12 months.