Anthropic is building its own biology lab to push AI-driven drug development beyond computer simulations. The lab, located in the San Francisco area, will allow the company to run physical experiments, Reuters reports.
The plan is for Claude to guide robots through experiments with minimal human involvement. Anthropic has already shipped two tools to make that work: Claude Science, an AI workspace built for researchers, and the Model Hardware Standard for controlling lab equipment. Human oversight is still required for safety, the company says.
Eric Kauderer-Abrams, who runs Anthropic's life sciences division, sees the biggest opportunity in diseases long considered "undruggable" because no treatment exists. AI could speed up the design of complex antibodies that hit multiple targets at once, he says.
The lab push builds on moves Anthropic made earlier this year. In April, the company acquired the startup Coefficient Bio for about $400 million and added Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan to its board. Anthropic won't run its own clinical trials for now, according to the report, to avoid stepping on pharma companies' toes.
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