OpenAI Buys Orchestra Bio to Expand AI’s Role in Drug Development

OpenAI has bought Orchestra Bio, a startup that makes technology to coordinate drug development. The AI company is expanding its work to help researchers develop possible new medicines.

The companies did not share the financial details of the deal. On Tuesday, OpenAI said it plans to bring Orchestra's technology and team together with its Rosalind life sciences tools. The goal is to help scientists turn research findings into experiments and make decisions about how to develop medicines.

The deal brings together tools designed for different parts of the research process. OpenAI's GPT-Rosalind helps scientists answer questions about biology and chemistry. Rosalind Workbench connects these abilities with scientific tools and data so researchers can study results and plan experiments.

Orchestra adds a platform built to coordinate drug development. It also brings a team with experience in biotechnology, software and AI. OpenAI said the combined team will focus on building AI agents that help researchers connect scientific findings with the studies, decisions and next steps needed to move a possible medicine forward.

The deal shows that OpenAI wants its life sciences business to do more than help scientists analyze research. It also wants to help coordinate the process of developing drugs. It remains to be seen whether these tools can make drug development faster or increase the chances of success.

Separately, OpenAI, led by Chief Executive Sam Altman, is reportedly in talks to raise another $30 billion at a company valuation of $1.4 trillion.