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The promise of quantum in life sciences

In an industry dominated by experiment, the ability to simulate, optimize, and orchestrate processes or portions thereof within the drug discovery lifecycle has the power to cut timelines, lower costs, and reduce the rate of failures.

Quantum holds great promise within the life sciences industry, with potential applications for technologies such as quantum computing and quantum sensors. Research from the Capgemini Research Institute on behalf of Capgemini’s Quantum Lab identified that one in five energy, chemicals, and life sciences organizations are already implementers of quantum technologies – launching experiments and pilots, and achieving early results.

Quantum computing provides a way of solving problems requiring complex optimization, simulation, or machine learning. So, the more pharma companies can optimize the drug discovery and development process and use in silico techniques to augment or replace laboratory assays, the more quickly they can identify and optimize lead molecules and commit to strong drug candidates.

High-potential use cases for quantum computing, using quantum algorithms, include accurate simulation of drug molecules and their interaction with biological targets, optimizing the design and development of new candidates, and optimizing the manufacture and supply of new products. Improving the accuracy of output reduces computation costs and is faster.

Quantum in drug discovery webinar

How quantum computing and QML could help accelerate drug discovery

Applications in diagnostics and security

Quantum sensors, providing unprecedented precision in measurement, are already being deployed in healthcare/diagnostics sectors in areas such as biomedical imaging and could, as the technology develops, advance the understanding of neurological diseases, such as dementia and Parkinson’s.

Quantum has great potential in another dimension: life sciences and research organizations require highly secure data transfer for operational, clinical, and trial data. For this reason, companies need to anticipate post-quantum encryption technologies and embed crypto-agility into the design of future processes and applications.

While quantum technology is still nascent, some pharma majors are pushing ahead, and, for example, exploring how quantum approaches would potentially scale in the future. The time is now for companies to develop a strategy that will allow them to harness the power of this technology as it matures.

Capgemini is well-placed to support life sciences organizations in their quantum journey. Our dedicated Quantum Lab is a global network of quantum experts, partners, and specialist research facilities, running research programs and developing capabilities aimed at the advancement of quantum technologies. We work with our life sciences colleagues and our long-term partner IBM, helping to equip life sciences companies with the technology, skills, and strategic capabilities they need to develop and deploy an early-stage quantum roadmap.

Click here for more information on Capgemini’s work in the life sciences sector.

What if … quantum could transform the drug discovery lifecycle?

The drug discovery lifecycle

Getting drugs to market quickly and cost effectively with quantum

Research and insights

Point of view

The future of quantum in life sciences: a point of view
Capgemini Research Institute

Quantum technologies

Expert perspectives

Innovation

Five best practices life sciences organizations can embrace at the outset of every quantum computing proof of concept 

Sam Genway
Nov 2, 2022
Innovation

Exploring the value and limitations of quantum-inspired solutions for life sciences organizations

Marek Kowalik
Nov 3, 2022
Innovation

Quantum balancing act: Exploring three common conflicts within the quantum roadmap for life sciences organizations

Gireesh Kumar Neelakantaiah
Dec 9, 2022

Meet our experts

Sam Genway

Emerging Technologies Lead at Hybrid Intelligence, Head of Industries at Capgemini Quantum Lab
Sam leads quantum computing R&D at Capgemini’s Quantum Lab. With a background in theoretical quantum physics, he co-founded an accelerator on emerging technologies within Capgemini and has worked with several of the largest, most innovative companies to develop their capabilities and enhance their operations. Sam holds an MSci from the University of Cambridge and a PhD in Theoretical Physics from Imperial College London.

Andrew Alderman

Head of Industry (UK), Life Sciences
Andrew focuses on the connection between life sciences R&D, technology, data and innovation. He has worked with clients from across the life science industry for over 22 years, supporting them on their path to becoming more data driven.

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