Hangzhou-based biotech start-up MindRank has reached Phase 3 clinical trials for its weight-loss drug, marking a first for China’s AI-assisted Category 1 new drugs. The company recently began testing MDR-001, a GLP-1 receptor agonist developed with AI, which mimics natural hormones to manage blood sugar and appetite. MindRank’s founder, Niu Zhangming, highlighted that this drug is the first of its kind in China to advance so far, with approval anticipated by 2028 and a market release in 2029. The drug’s development has taken about four and a half years, significantly shorter than the typical seven to ten years, thanks to AI-driven efficiencies that have cut research and development costs by at least 60%. Human experts identify a target, usually a protein linked to a disease, and use AI tools to quickly generate potential drug candidates, allowing researchers to select the most promising ones from an AI-generated list.
Has MindRank reduced R&D costs by 60% with its AI-assisted drug?
