In 2022, Aria Pharmaceuticals made significant headway on nearly every front in our mission to bring novel and needed treatments into the clinic. It’s been a busy, productive and most of all rewarding 12 months.

I’m actively working on advancing an innovative technology solution in biotech, AI for drug discovery. So, naturally, Matthew Herper’s article “Here’s Why We’re Not Prepared for the Next Wave of Innovation” for STAT caught my attention.

There has never been more discussion about the usefulness, and proper use of, artificial intelligence (AI) in drug discovery. When Aria first started utilizing AI as a tool in the early drug discovery process, much of that conversation centered on AI as a panacea that will revolutionize healthcare. Not a useful conversation and not a practical use of AI.

2021 was a year of growth and transformational change at Aria Pharmaceuticals. In recognition of our continued evolution, we announced a rebrand to a new name that reflects the artistry and complexity that defines how our company and scientific teams approach medicine, from discovery to clinical research to FDA approval, while always keeping the science our number one priority.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is devastating. It causes lung tissue scarring that becomes thicker over time, causing chronic pain and difficulty breathing. However, it’s not just the physical toll of the disease that impacts patients, it’s also a significant decline in quality of life.

Since we have now rebranded twoXAR Pharmaceuticals as Aria Pharmaceuticals, I’m often asked “Why that name?” The dictionary defines the word “aria” as a long musical piece typically written for a solo voice with orchestral accompaniment in an opera, a theatrical work which combines drama, music, song and dance. You might be wondering, what does drug discovery and development have to do with opera?

I recently authored an article in Life Science Leader discussing my own misperceptions and preconceived notions about applying AI to an extremely challenging and complex process, drug discovery. Like many, my 30-year career in pharmaceuticals was rooted in the tried-and-true methodology of the traditional R&D process, with wins few and far between. But my dissatisfaction for the lengthy and often unsuccessful process to bring new molecules to market reached a heightened sense of urgency in 2017 when I started consulting for twoXAR and realized there might be a better way. I wanted to take a moment here and share what exactly drove me to the conviction I now have.

Every year, for the past 39 years, the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference has been one of the most reliable predictors of our industry’s health. It’s a gauge of industry innovation, deal making, funding and overall sentiment about the value of the pharmaceutical market.

Without a doubt, 2020 has been a trying year. The pandemic has touched every business and every human on earth in different ways. And despite all of its tragic outcomes, it has starkly reminded me that we work in one of the most exciting and innovative industries in the world — the life sciences industry.

When this virus became a serious public threat at the beginning of this year, multiple AI companies shifted their focus to using AI to fight coronavirus and their approaches are varied, ranging from drug repurposing to finding novel molecules.