Bayer Deploys Iambic AI to Accelerate Drug Discovery

Bayer has entered into a strategic sourcing partnership with science and technology firm Iambic Therapeutics to advance the process of small molecule discovery and development of new drugs. 

The established corporation is collaborating with the partner to leverage its AI-powered platform for addressing drug targets that are traditionally difficult to reach. 

Juergen Eckhardt, the Head of Business Development and Licensing at Bayer Pharmaceuticals, explains: “This collaboration exemplifies our shared ambition to harness AI as a strategic driver of innovation in drug discovery and our focus on building high-impact collaborations that translate cutting-edge technology into patient value. 

“By collaborating with Iambic, we bring together complementary capabilities to accelerate scientific insights and improve decision-making across the R&D value chain.”

Powering Bayer’s R&D Value Chain

The pharmaceutical company will use the Enchant and NeuralPLexer AI platforms developed by Iambic Therapeutics to identify new drug pathways. 

Implementing these systems will allow the business to increase optimisation timelines and strengthen its early portfolio. 

Thomas Miller, Co-Founder and CEO of Iambic Therapeutics, says: “Iambic is proving that better technology leads to better medicines, both in our own hands and with visionary partners like Bayer. 

“Through this collaboration, Bayer secures access to industry-leading technology, including Iambic’s frontier AI models Enchant and NeuralPLexer, and together we expand the universe of potential life-saving medicines.”

At present, the research division of Bayer prioritises specialty areas such as oncology, cardiology, neurology, women’s health and cell and gene therapies. 

Currently, the sector manages 40 active programs while maintaining an innovation portfolio comprising 45% biologics and advanced therapies alongside 55% small molecules. 

Sustainability Targets Transform Procurement & Operations

Bayer is committed to sustainability efforts and improving the lives of everyday people. In 2025, the company set a bold goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions across its entire system by 2050 or sooner. 

To achieve this, the business is switching to purchasing 100% of its electricity only from renewable sources. 

Bill Anderson, CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer of Bayer, says: “Health for all Hunger for none – our mission is at the heart of everything we do at Bayer. We’re dedicated to better health improved patient care and innovative agriculture to not only produce more food but also restore nature: by improving soil health, restoring biodiversity and conserving water.”

The facility operated by Bayer in northern Spain reached a significant milestone in 2025 by becoming the first plant in the region to achieve total decarbonisation. 

This accomplishment was made possible through a strategic collaboration with Iberdrola, which is an electric utility provider. 

Iberdrola implemented a thermal storage system next to the Bayer site which converts renewable power into the steam essential for the industrial processes of the plant. 

Mario Ruiz-Tagle, the CEO of Iberdrola Spain, says: “This is the first major steam electrification project in Spain and one of the largest in the world, which represents the great commitment of Bayer and Iberdrola to Asturias. It uses thermal storage technology, available technology that allows up to 50% of the heat consumed by industry in Spain to be decarbonised.”

The infrastructure upgrades at the facility began with the installation of a clean thermal storage system directly adjacent to the site. This technology allows for the seamless conversion of renewable power into the high-pressure industrial steam required for manufacturing operations.

By utilising this electrified system, the plant succeeded in the complete elimination of fossil fuel reliance for its vital production processes. 

Furthermore, the project serves as the delivery of a scalable model capable of decarbonising up to 50% of all industrial heat consumed across Spain.