FMC Corp. Collaborates with Cyclica to Improve Research Efficiency Using Artificial Intelligence

By PR Newswire|June 29, 2020

FMC Corp. has entered into a collaboration with Cyclica Inc., a leading biotechnology company specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) and computational biophysics, to accelerate and improve the efficiency of discovering new crop protection chemistry. This is among the first of several new technology collaborations and approaches that FMC is pursuing to expand its research of novel active ingredients that protect crops from diseases and destructive pests.

“Today we have an award-winning pipeline of more than 25 promising new molecules,” said Dr. Kathleen Shelton, vice president and chief technology officer of FMC. “Discovering a new molecule with the right efficacy, mode of action and sustainability profile is a complex, multi-year process requiring hundreds of researchers testing tens of thousands of compounds annually. Augmenting our traditional research and screening processes with the power of artificial intelligence will help us identify and assess more molecules faster and with greater precision.”

FMC will use Ligand Design and Ligand Express, Cyclica’s proprietary AI platforms, to optimize the discovery of novel compounds at a pace that far exceeds typical chemistry discovery research programs. Powered by MatchMaker, a deep learning proteome screening technology, and POEM, a machine learning technology for predicting molecular properties, Ligand Design and Ligand Express will assess millions of chemical structures, providing FMC researchers with a greater volume of high-quality molecule predictions that are specific to the pesticidal target of interest. A similar AI-augmented approach to discovery research has been used successfully for years in industries that require extensive data analysis, significant investments and lengthy development timelines, such as pharmaceuticals and healthcare.