{"content_type":"Blog post","title":"Why the Antibody Discovery Challenge signals a new direction for AI validation","sub_title":null,"cover_image":"https:\/\/juniverseadmin.jnjinnovation.com\/sites\/default\/files\/Blog-post\/Prabhu%20blog%201%20v3.png","slider_image":null,"another_slider_image":null,"brightcove_account":"3198958923001","brightcove_player":"9Z7fsGThCO","use_video_as_the_header":false,"new_blog_layout":false,"header_video":null,"tags":[],"focus_area":["Data Science","Innovation Challenges"],"region":"EMEA","published_date":"2026-01-27","highlighted_text":[],"author_name":null,"author_nid":null,"meta_tags":null,"news_detail_url":null,"body":{"body":[{"paragraph_type":"text","text":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBy Prabhu Velusami, Sr Director Search \u0026amp; Evaluation EMEA, Johnson \u0026amp; Johnson\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere\u2019s a lot of debate right now about the role of AI in drug discovery.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome people feel it\u2019s overhyped.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOthers think it will fundamentally reshape how we develop medicines. The truth usually sits somewhere in the middle. The key question isn\u2019t whether AI has potential, but how we validate that potential in a way that genuinely moves science forward.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is one of the reasons the CAT-PD QuickFire Challenge, which was run in partnership with NVIDIA, is so interesting. (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/jnjinnovation.com\/innovation-challenges\/Pitching-Critical-Assessment-for-Therapeutic-Protein-Design-(CAT-PD)-QuickFire-Challenge#timeline\u0022\u003EDetails here\u003C\/a\u003E - the finalists gave a pitch at the JPM conference.)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInstead of discussing AI in the abstract, the challenge asked participants to do something far more grounded: solve real scientific problems that remain difficult today. These weren\u2019t hypothetical exercises. They were concrete design challenges involving molecules, biological constraints and therapeutic relevance, the kinds of challenges that matter when you are trying to advance a programme toward patients.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere\u2019s why this model feels like a meaningful shift in how pharma and innovators might work together in AI-driven discovery:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e739038e98454aaa16eb287deeb290496\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIt replaces theory with evidence.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EMany AI platforms look compelling on slides, but the real test is whether they can produce molecules that work when we synthesise and validate them in relevant assays. By generating those molecules internally and running them through our systems, we can see quickly whether there is genuine substance behind the approach.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022eb265bc1803bb8282d6fa71b16879016b\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIt creates a win-win form of validation.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EIf a team\u2019s method succeeds, they receive valuable data that strengthens the credibility of their platform. If it doesn\u2019t, the learning still accelerates refinement and clarifies where more development is needed.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e26b3c532486f0d16673e8c2a5e6f2458\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIt shifts the focus from claims to capability.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EEveryone can talk about algorithms. What matters is whether the approach can solve a problem that has resisted conventional methods. This format brings that question to the forefront.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022efa3c6c1770de6909fe7b4319228cc9af\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIt reflects a broader trend toward collaborative de-risking.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EEarly-stage programmes often struggle because generating validation data is expensive. Approaches like this lower that barrier while giving large organisations an early look at differentiated technology.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor me, this direction signals where the field may be heading.\u003Cbr\u003EThe most meaningful AI progress will come not from claims, but from shared experiments that let both sides see what\u2019s real.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany AI\/ML companies are coming up on 5-10 year anniversaries of their founding and are still quite far from validating in the clinic. It\u2019s critical for these companies to think through which targets may enable partnership with pharma companies such as J\u0026amp;J (based on their portfolio need) and therefore provide the most rapid path to the clinic e.g. in 2-3 years vs. 5-10 years.If you\u2019re working in AI-driven discovery, what kind of validation do you think the field needs most right now?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELearn more about the \u201c\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/jnjinnovation.com\/innovation-challenges\/Pitching-Critical-Assessment-for-Therapeutic-Protein-Design-(CAT-PD)-QuickFire-Challenge\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EPitching Critical Assessment for Therapeutic Protein Design (CAT-PD) QuickFire Challenge\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u201d.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"full_html"}]}]},"related_news":[{"title":"Johnson \u0026 Johnson names awardees in second cohort of the Polyphonic\u2122 AI Fund for Surgery QuickFire Challenge","nid":"145144","cover_image":"https:\/\/juniverseadmin.jnjinnovation.com\/sites\/default\/files\/Blog-post\/AI%20in%20Surgery%20Cohort%202%20Awardee%20Blog%20Post%281%29.jpg","slider_image":null,"another_slider_image":null,"brightcove_account":"3198958923001","header_video":null,"news_detail_url":null,"focus_area":["Surgery","Innovation","Innovation Challenges"],"region":"Global","published_date":"2026-07-23","author_name":null,"author_nid":null,"news_type":"blog_post","brightcove_player":"9Z7fsGThCO"},{"title":"Johnson \u0026 Johnson names awardees in the Data \u0026 AI Fueling R\u0026D of Tomorrow QuickFire Challenge: Singapore \u0026 Beyond","nid":"145140","cover_image":"https:\/\/juniverseadmin.jnjinnovation.com\/sites\/default\/files\/Blog-post\/Data%20Science%20Awardee%20Media%20Blog.jpg","slider_image":null,"another_slider_image":null,"brightcove_account":"3198958923001","header_video":null,"news_detail_url":null,"focus_area":["Data Science","Innovation","Innovation Challenges"],"region":"Asia Pacific","published_date":"2026-07-20","author_name":null,"author_nid":null,"news_type":"blog_post","brightcove_player":"9Z7fsGThCO"},{"title":"Johnson \u0026 Johnson names awardees in the Unlocking Urologic Oncology Innovation QuickFire Challenge","nid":"145077","cover_image":"https:\/\/juniverseadmin.jnjinnovation.com\/sites\/default\/files\/Blog-post\/AUA%20Awardees_Blog%20Post%20%28researchers%29.jpg","slider_image":null,"another_slider_image":null,"brightcove_account":"3198958923001","header_video":null,"news_detail_url":null,"focus_area":["Oncology","Innovation Challenges"],"region":"Global","published_date":"2026-05-14","author_name":null,"author_nid":null,"news_type":"blog_post","brightcove_player":"9Z7fsGThCO"},{"title":"The value of coming together: biotech CEO reflections from the JLABS EMEA CEO Summit","nid":"145176","cover_image":"https:\/\/juniverseadmin.jnjinnovation.com\/sites\/default\/files\/Blog-post\/CEO%20Reflections%20-%20cover.png","slider_image":null,"another_slider_image":null,"brightcove_account":"3198958923001","header_video":null,"news_detail_url":null,"focus_area":["J\u0026J Leadership","Innovation"],"region":"EMEA","published_date":"2026-09-10","author_name":null,"author_nid":null,"news_type":"blog_post","brightcove_player":"9Z7fsGThCO"},{"title":"Beyond the cheque: rethinking the role of pharma in building breakthrough biotechs","nid":"145175","cover_image":"https:\/\/juniverseadmin.jnjinnovation.com\/sites\/default\/files\/Blog-post\/IMM%20VC%20Blog%20-%20final_2.png","slider_image":null,"another_slider_image":null,"brightcove_account":"3198958923001","header_video":null,"news_detail_url":null,"focus_area":["Immunology","J\u0026J Leadership","Innovation","Venture Investments","Other"],"region":"EMEA","published_date":"2026-09-09","author_name":null,"author_nid":null,"news_type":"blog_post","brightcove_player":"9Z7fsGThCO"}]}