Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) has announced a collaboration with artificial intelligence company Anthropic to integrate AI models into its drug discovery, research and development, and software engineering activities.
The partnership will combine Anthropic’s AI technology with Novo Nordisk’s scientific expertise to investigate how AI can support biological reasoning, address research problems and improve R&D workflows.
The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the agreement.
Novo Nordisk to Test Claude Science in R&D
Under the agreement, Novo Nordisk will use Anthropic’s AI models and Claude Science to support scientific reasoning in research and development.
The pharmaceutical company plans to begin by testing Claude Science on selected scientific problems and R&D workflows where it believes the technology could provide measurable benefits.
The initial work will assess how AI can assist researchers in analysing complex biological information and carrying out scientific tasks.
Novo Nordisk has not disclosed specific drug candidates or clinical development programmes associated with the collaboration.
Companies Target Research Productivity
Novo Nordisk President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Doustdar said the agreement forms part of the company’s broader adoption of AI technologies.
“This partnership is another testament to our ambition to become the world’s most AI-driven healthcare company, building on Novo’s current AI initiatives with other technology partners,” Doustdar said.
“AI can help us increase productivity in R&D and compress the path from research to marketed product.”
Anthropic co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Dario Amodei said the collaboration aims to reduce research timelines and improve outcomes.
The companies have not provided quantitative targets for productivity improvements or reductions in drug development timelines.
Collaboration Extends to Software Engineering
Beyond scientific research, Novo Nordisk plans to use Anthropic’s AI models to support software development across its operations.
The agreement includes applications involving agentic software engineering, in which AI systems can assist with sequences of development tasks.
Novo Nordisk said the collaboration will incorporate data governance and human oversight measures intended to align the use of AI with its ethical and compliance requirements.
The announcement did not specify an implementation timetable for the broader software engineering applications.
The partnership adds Anthropic to Novo Nordisk’s existing technology collaborations as the pharmaceutical company expands its use of AI in research and internal operations.
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