Axcelead Drug Discovery Partners, a Japanese contract research organization, has joined Eli Lilly's TuneLab collaborative AI platform, marking the first time a CRO (contract research organization) has participated in this way. The partnership gives Axcelead DDP access to machine learning models trained on decades of Lilly's proprietary research data, while Axcelead contributes its own drug discovery insights to improve the shared models.

What Is Lilly TuneLab and How Does It Work?

Lilly TuneLab is a collaborative artificial intelligence and machine learning platform designed to accelerate early-stage drug discovery. The platform uses federated learning, a privacy-preserving technique that allows participating companies to improve predictive models without sharing raw proprietary data directly with each other. This approach solves a major challenge in pharma: how to benefit from collective intelligence while protecting trade secrets.

Through this collaboration, Axcelead DDP will enhance its ability to predict drug-like properties across small molecules and antibody therapeutics. The platform helps researchers forecast absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME), safety profiles, and preclinical attributes, all critical factors that determine whether a drug candidate is worth pursuing further.

Why Does This Partnership Matter for Drug Discovery?

Traditionally, drug discovery relies on years of trial-and-error experimentation. By tapping into Lilly's AI models, Axcelead DDP can make faster, more informed decisions about which compounds to develop and which to abandon early. This accelerates the path from initial discovery to clinical development, potentially bringing medicines to patients sooner.

The partnership also positions Axcelead DDP as a bridge between biotech startups and large pharmaceutical companies. As a contract research organization, Axcelead works with multiple biotech customers on their drug discovery programs. Now it can offer those customers access to Lilly's advanced AI models, giving smaller firms the computational advantage typically reserved for mega-pharma.

How to Leverage AI-Powered Drug Discovery Partnerships

• Access Shared Models: Biotech companies working with Axcelead DDP can now utilize Lilly TuneLab's AI models trained on decades of pharmaceutical research data without building their own machine learning infrastructure.
• Contribute Proprietary Data: Organizations participating in federated learning platforms can improve shared models by contributing their own drug discovery data while maintaining confidentiality through privacy-preserving techniques.
• Accelerate Candidate Selection: Use AI predictions for ADME, safety, and preclinical attributes to prioritize which compounds deserve further investment and which should be deprioritized early.

Axcelead DDP, established in 2017 after inheriting Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited's drug discovery platform, operates as Japan's first comprehensive drug discovery solutions provider. The company consolidates all essential functions under one roof, including a large-scale compound library, screening capabilities, chemistry, pharmacology, biology, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK), and safety assessment.

"By deepening the extensive experience and expertise in drug discovery that we have accumulated over the years through our participation in TuneLab, we will further enhance the quality of our drug discovery services," said Kengo Okada, Ph.D., Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of Axcelead DDP.

Kengo Okada, Ph.D., Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of Axcelead DDP

Lilly TuneLab is part of a broader Eli Lilly initiative called Lilly Catalyze360, which also includes Lilly Ventures, Lilly Gateway Labs, and Lilly ExploR&D. Together, these programs support biotech innovation by providing access to strategic capital, laboratory space, technology, and research and development capabilities.

The collaboration reflects a broader industry trend toward open innovation ecosystems in drug discovery. Rather than keeping AI models proprietary, large pharmaceutical companies are recognizing that collaborative platforms can accelerate discovery across the entire industry, ultimately benefiting patients waiting for new treatments. By positioning itself as the first CRO in this ecosystem, Axcelead DDP gains competitive advantage while helping smaller biotech firms access world-class AI tools.