Three healthcare companies are using AI partnerships to accelerate drug discovery and medical device development, positioning themselves to capitalize on expanding markets in weight management and surgical procedures.

Key takeaway

• Three healthcare stocks—Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Intuitive Surgical—are partnering with leading AI companies to speed up drug discovery and improve surgical device performance.

• AI is expected to reduce the typical drug discovery phase by a year or two, lowering costs and allowing these companies to invest more in research and development while expanding their positions in high-growth markets like weight management and robotic surgery.

3 Key Points

FAQ

How much does it cost to develop a new drug?

Developing new drugs is expensive and time-consuming; it can take over a decade and cost about $2.8 billion（約4500億円）.

What is UBT251 and why is it significant for Novo Nordisk?

UBT251 is an investigational medicine that mimics the action of three separate gut hormones—GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon—which could lead to significantly greater efficacy than medicines like Wegovy that target only a single hormone. The medicine has already shown highly encouraging results in studies.

What competitive advantage does Intuitive Surgical have in robotic surgery?

Intuitive Surgical leads the robotic-assisted surgery market with its da Vinci system and has access to a large data set from thousands of real-world procedures, which it is using AI to turn into valuable insights for enhancing safety, effectiveness, and device improvement.