Merck & Co., Inc. and Mayo Clinic announced a multi-year research and development collaboration to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) and multimodal clinical data to support drug discovery and precision medicine. Under the terms of the agreement, Merck will gain access to the Mayo Clinic Platform—a secure architecture integrating de-identified clinical, genomic, and imaging data.
The partnership focuses on the identification and validation of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers, initially targeting high-need indications in gastroenterology, dermatology, and neurology. The initial focus areas include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), atopic dermatitis, and multiple sclerosis. Merck will acquire global rights to molecules generated from the platform, with financial specifics not released. The agreement integrates the Mayo Clinic Platform_Orchestrate program with Merck’s internal research capabilities to enhance “virtual cell” technologies and improve target identification through longitudinal data analysis. Both organizations will contribute technical expertise and scientific personnel to the joint initiatives.
Deal context
The collaboration targets the application of machine learning (ML) and AI to high-fidelity, multimodal datasets—including lab results, clinical notes, and molecular data—to derisk early development. Mayo’s platform enables the identification of specific patient subpopulations and uncovering biological correlations that traditional clinical trial data may omit.
The partnership is the latest within Merck’s broader strategy of using AI to support R&D activities. The US giant’s partnerships with AI-driven platforms for drug discovery include a September 2025 partnership with Variational AI for optimization of small molecule candidates; with Turbine in August 2025 for AI-driven cell simulations; and with Absci in 2022 for AI-generated novel enzymes.
AI-enabled drug discovery platforms are attracting intensive investments. Highlighting a selection of recent deals: Isomorphic Labs—an autonomous subsidiary of Alphabet—secured two major strategic partnerships: a USD 1.7 billion deal with Eli Lilly and a USD 1.2 billion agreement with Novartis to discover small molecule therapeutics. Novartis expanded its generative biology footprint in Q3 2024 through a USD 1 billion-plus collaboration with Generate:Biomedicines. Sanofi entered a first-of-its-kind tripartite agreement in May 2024 with OpenAI and Formation Bio to develop custom AI models across the drug development lifecycle. These activities underscore a competitive trend toward leveraging massive, non-public clinical datasets to de-risk high-cost therapeutic programs in oncology and immunology.
The following molecules and platforms are currently under active clinical development or target discovery through recent AI-centric partnerships:
- BNT-327 (PT217); BioNTech/Bristol Myers Squibb; Phase III (NCT06560944)
- mRNA-4157 (V940); Merck/Moderna; Phase III (NCT05933577)
- EXS-21546; Exscientia/Bristol Myers Squibb; Phase I/II (NCT04663776)
- LP-184; Lantern Pharma; Phase IA/B (NCT05933265)
- REC-994; Recursion Pharmaceuticals; Phase II (NCT03935399)
- DSP-1181; Sumitomo Pharma/Exscientia; Phase I