Accenture Invests in Turbine to Accelerate Use of AI-Powered Cell Simulations for Biopharma Research and Development

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has made a strategic investment, through Accenture Ventures, in Turbine, a predictive simulation company that is building a platform for interpreting human biology. Accenture’s investment will help Turbine further extend its capabilities to global biopharma companies that can benefit from Turbine’s ability to uncover hidden biological insights, with the potential to guide and accelerate key drug development workstreams.

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Accenture has made a strategic investment, through Accenture Ventures, in Turbine, a predictive simulation company that is building a platform for interpreting human biology. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Turbine’s core technology, the Simulated Cell platform, utilizes machine learning to understand how human cells make decisions. The platform intricately models molecular interactions within and around cells, enabling virtual experiments in volumes that are nearly impossible to achieve in the physical world and revealing mechanisms that drive diseases and response to therapies.

“Advanced technology and digital capabilities are clearly becoming substantial differentiators in the biopharma industry, and the future of drug discovery will be powered by AI,” said Tom Lounibos, global lead of Accenture Ventures. “Turbine’s AI-based platform has clearly demonstrated the ability to unlock high-quality biological insights for our clients across the biopharma industry.”

Turbine’s platform is being validated with leading pharma companies to uncover promising drug targets, select patient populations most likely to benefit from therapy, and identify combination therapy regimens that can increase therapeutic benefit in certain patients. This allows Turbine to reveal treatments otherwise hidden from view, as well as potential drugs that work in the lab but would likely fail in clinical trials.

Petra Jantzer, Ph.D., a senior managing director and global lead of the Accenture Life Sciences business, said, “Turbine's Simulated Cell platform has emerged as a valuable tool for global biopharma companies to gain insights into the intricacies of biological systems, which can lead to the development of targeted treatments. Our investment reflects our commitment to supporting technology and digital capabilities that drive innovation in AI-based drug discovery, all with the goal of providing more effective treatments and enhancing patient care.”