AI-Driven Drug Discovery Gains Momentum as Chinese Pharma Companies Accelerate Strategic Layouts

　　【Pharmaceutical Network Industry Dynamics】Jiangsu Hualan New Pharmaceutical Material Co., Ltd. announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lingqing Digital Intelligence, has recently signed an investment agreement with XtalPi Holdings Limited, XtalPi, Jingtai Zhiqi, Clickmab, Clickmab Digital Antibody, and the equity holding platform. Meanwhile, Lingqing Digital Intelligence signed a shareholders' agreement with XtalPi Holdings Limited, Clickmab, Clickmab Digital Antibody, the equity holding platform, XtalPi, Jingtai Zhiqi, Biocytogen, Duckling, and Vibrant.
 

Specifically, Lingqing Digital Intelligence and Shenzhen XtalPi plan to jointly increase their capital investment in Clickmab. Lingqing Digital Intelligence intends to use 20 million yuan of its own funds to subscribe for the newly increased registered capital of Clickmab, further acquiring 9.53% equity of Clickmab on a fully diluted basis after this transaction. After the completion of this agreement, Lingqing Digital Intelligence will obtain one seat on Clickmab's board of directors and the right of first refusal to acquire Clickmab under equal conditions.
 

Public information shows that Clickmab, incubated by the AI-driven drug discovery company XtalPi Holdings Limited, is a biotechnology enterprise focused on utilizing generative AI models for antibody design. It is committed to breaking through the limitations of traditional animal immunization-based antibody discovery methods, providing innovative solutions for the development of antibody drugs and diagnostic detection antibodies, and accelerating the rapid development and technological innovation of next-generation antibody drugs.
 

And Jiangsu Hualan New Pharmaceutical Material Co., Ltd., mainly engages in the research, production, and sales of packaging materials for injectable drugs that come into direct contact with medications. Its main products include various types of laminated rubber stoppers and conventional rubber stoppers. Regarding this entry into the market, Hualan stated that in the future, the company will deepen its layout in the AI-driven innovative drug R&D sector, building its business team in diversified ways and enhancing its technical service capabilities.
 

AI-driven innovative drug R&D refers to the process of using artificial intelligence technologies, especially machine learning, deep learning, generative models, and large language models, to assist, optimize, or innovatively replace the entire process of innovative drug R&D.
 

In recent years, AI-driven innovative drug research and development has gained significant momentum, attracting numerous pharmaceutical companies both in China and abroad. In China, apart from Jiangsu Hualan New Pharmaceutical Material Co., Ltd., many pharmaceutical enterprises have actively entered the AI-driven innovative drug R&D sector. These include companies like XtalPi, whose core business revolves around AI-powered drug discovery, traditional pharmaceutical giants such as Hengrui Pharma and WuXi AppTec, as well as specialized firms like Hongbo Pharma that focus on niche areas.
 

For example, as a leader in China's innovative drug sector, Hengrui Pharma has built its self-developed AIDD (Artificial Intelligence Drug Discovery) platform, which has generated over 100,000 new molecules. With the help of AI technology, Hengrui Pharma has shortened the molecular screening cycle by 60% and reduced R&D costs by nearly half. Its GLP-1 receptor agonist, co-developed with DeepSeek, has achieved impressive overseas sales, and the marketing application for its self-developed JAK1 inhibitor, Armapitinib Ointment, has been accepted. AI has played a crucial role throughout the entire process of its innovative drug R&D.
 

WuXi AppTec, a leading company in pharmaceutical outsourcing, has also achieved a full-chain layout in the AI drug discovery field. It has not only accumulated over 2 million clinical trial data points but also improved drug screening efficiency by three times through AI technology, with business coverage spanning multiple stages from DEL library screening to clinical trial optimization. Meanwhile, the company established an AI-driven drug discovery alliance, attracting participation from more than 40 institutions. Its AI-powered CRDMO model boasts a customer retention rate exceeding 95%, and its Q1 2025 net profit attributable to shareholders increased by 150.3% year-over-year. AI technology has provided strong support for its business growth.
 

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