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[ARTICLE · art-75938] src=news.ycombinator.com ↗ pub= topic=large-language-models verified=true sentiment=· neutral

Why aren't we using LLM's to chemically redesign old drugs?

A Hacker News user proposed using large language models to chemically redesign old drugs, specifically suggesting a Pt(IV) prodrug version of cisplatin with albumin-binding and glutathione-synthesis inhibitor ligands to reduce toxicity and improve tumor targeting. The post, which received 1 point and no comments, explores whether LLMs like ChatGPT could aid in drug redesign.

read1 min views1 publishedJul 27, 2026

I was fooling around with Cisplatin, a chemo drug that made testicular cancer curable. Then I was like, I wonder how Chat GPT would improve this drug. It tried. Is this a good idea?

"The best chemical improvement is unlikely to be “a stronger cisplatin.” It should be a less reactive circulating molecule that becomes ordinary cisplatin only after tumor uptake. My preferred candidate is therefore: A neutral, asymmetric cisplatin-based Pt(IV) prodrug with one stabilized albumin-binding axial ligand and one reduction-released glutathione-synthesis inhibitor, with the axial electronics deliberately tuned to prevent premature blood reduction."

Comments URL: [https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49074935](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49074935)

Points: 1

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