Revolutionizing Antiviral Drug Discovery: The Emerging Role of Artificial Intelligence

Mahmoud Kandeel, Abdullah Al-Mubarak, Sameer Alhojaily, Sheryar Afzal, Izzeldin Ismail and Mohammed Al-Rasheed

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a pivotal and transformative force in the search for new antiviral drugs, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. The pressing demand for effective treatments against new viral threats has underscored the shortcomings of conventional drug discovery methods. The AI, particularly, is revolutionizing the speed at which new antiviral compounds are identified and developed. Incorporating technologies like Machine Learning (ML) and deep learning (DL), AI brings multiple benefits to the drug discovery arena. The AI aids in extensive data analysis and mining, streamlining the identification and filtration of potential drug candidates, thereby reducing the manual effort involved. Another facet of AI, Natural Language Processing (NLP), is instrumental in extracting pertinent information from scientific texts and databases, guiding researchers to relevant drug development data. This automation in information gathering, analysis and interpretation by AI models helps optimize the drug discovery pathway. The effectiveness of AI in antiviral drug development is evident in various instances. Open science projects like the COVID Moonshot have expedited the analysis of thousands of molecules, thus fast-tracking drug discovery efforts against SARS-CoV-2. The AI is also instrumental in repurposing existing drugs for new antiviral uses. The AI models have quickly identified drugs such as remdesivir and hydroxychloroquine as potential COVID-19 treatments, expediting their repurposing. However, AI in drug discovery isn’t without its challenges, including data quality, ethical concerns, the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and regulatory hurdles. Ensuring top-notch training data, addressing ethical issues around data privacy and navigating AI regulations are critical to overcoming these challenges. Looking ahead, AI is poised to continue its revolutionary impact on drug discovery by enhancing its speed, accuracy and efficiency. It is anticipated to play a key role in forecasting and preparing for future epidemics and diseases, making it an invaluable asset in combating various health crises beyond antiviral drugs.

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