Lilly’s TuneLab democratises AI drug discovery for biotech startups

Eli Lilly has unveiled TuneLab, an innovative AI and machine learning platform that gives smaller biotechnology companies access to powerful drug discovery models built on over a billion dollars of Lilly’s research data. Engineered to level the playing field, the platform connects biotech startups to advanced capabilities previously limited to large pharmaceutical firms. Participants such as Insitro, Circle Pharma, Firefly Bio, and Superluminal Medicines can deploy Lilly’s models via a secure, federated system that protects proprietary data while enabling Lilly to refine and enhance those models using contributed insights.

As part of its broader Catalyze360 program, Lilly integrates TuneLab alongside initiatives including venture investment, lab access, and R&D support. This combined strategy aims to accelerate early-stage drug development and foster innovation across the biotech ecosystem.

Alongside TuneLab, Lilly also recently secured a deal with Superluminal Medicines for up to 1.3 billion dollars, granting access to Superluminal’s AI powered small molecule discovery platform to target cardiometabolic and obesity-related conditions. This agreement underscores Lilly’s commitment to incorporating AI capabilities into its drug pipeline.