The Chain: Protein Engineering Podcast Episode: 77 - Derek Lowe on AI and the US Biotech Ecosystem
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Sep 16, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Derek Lowe, Director of Chemical Biology Therapeutics at Novartis and author of the In the Pipeline blog, dives into the intersection of AI and drug discovery. He highlights the importance of human judgment as automation rises, discusses the challenges of modeling complex drug designs, and emphasizes the value of PhDs in biotech. Lowe also explores the impact of US research funding cuts on innovation, the contrasting biotech landscapes in China and the West, and the potential legal implications of AI-driven drug modifications.
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Bifunctional Molecules Expand What Drugs Can Do
- Bifunctional molecules (like degraders) let you remove proteins rather than just inhibit them, producing effects beyond active-site targeting.
- Redirecting enzymes or mislocalizing proteins opens interventions that biology never exposed to small molecules before.
Ternary Complex Geometry Is Hard To Predict
- Designing productive ternary complexes for bifunctional molecules depends heavily on linker geometry and unpredictable interactions.
- Machine learning could help, but current data are too sparse and empirical approaches still dominate.
Automate Grunt Work To Focus On Big Problems
- Automate repetitive 'grunt work' so scientists focus on higher-level problems and insights.
- Prepare to tackle tougher questions because automation and ML will eliminate many routine roles.