Medicines: how quantum computers will revolutionize research

When you speak, the general public often sees it as a dark subject.However, this technology, still in gestation, could revolutionize research, especially that relating to drugs.The company QUBIT PHARMACEUTICALS is already one of the pioneers in the world on this issue.

On January 21, 2021, President Emmanuel Macron announced an investment plan of 1.8 billion euros to support research in terms of quantum computer science, with the objective that France remains competitive in this area.

This technology still requires several years of fundamental research before arriving at maturity, certain companies follow suit so as not to miss the start of this promising new train.

And among the revolutionary applications which will be linked to future quantum computers, Quiet Pharmaceuticals explores one of these first applications: discover molecules that will compose the drugs of tomorrow.

Already results around COVVI-19

This young company, which notably brings together Franco-American university partners, has already applied its know-how on two classes of molecules which enter into the composition of treatments to fight against the COVVI-19."We have ongoing programs in the fields of inflammation and cancer," Dr. Robert Marino, CEO Director of QUBIT Pharmaceuticals, told CNEWS.

And to continue: "The purpose of our platform is to allow in particular to" jump "the part of the bench tests in the laboratories, thanks to the ability to do everything on a computer.The idea is to go faster thanks to the calculations, before arriving at clinical tests that will remain necessary to validate a treatment.You should know that today in terms of pharmacy, we are still at the old -fashioned work stage where many elements are prepared with conventional experiences. "

Interrogate new machines

Above all, CEBIT Pharmaceuticals participates in the installation of the foundations of quantum computers by developing the way of questioning these new machines.“If we have to reason by analogy for quantum computers, we are currently at the time when we made a classic computer work with perforated cards, as in the 1950s and 60s.In addition, there are several companies on this technology that each work with different platforms, so you have to adapt.We work to demonstrate what is called "quantum advantages", that is to say when this type of machine will prove more useful than classic computers to solve certain problems, while being less energy-consuming, "summarizesProfessor Jean-Philip Piquemal, from the theoretical chemistry laboratory at the University of the Sorbonne.

To achieve this, Quiet Pharmaceuticals revises and modernizes computer programs born several decades ago, in order to make new equations to supercomputer and certain quantum models.It remains to create a program capable of translating this equation into the language of a quantum computer, which is not binary.What the "quantum chemists" of Pharmaceuticals are prepared.

"With a quantum computer, we know that we can bet on an exponential gain in calculation power because of its technology," said Professor Jean-Philip Piquemal.Because a few minutes can theoretically suffice at a quantum computer to resolve a complex equation, when a supercaluler is likely to put several decades, or even much more to offer the same result.What give a serious boost to research.

Finally, this company stresses that the response provided by a quantum computer must also be translated in order to be intelligible for scientists and the people who use them."One day we will question a quantum computer in the same way as a current computer, the idea being that software serves as performers," prophesies Professor Jean-Philip Piquemal.Ultimately, Quiet Pharmaceuticals could therefore offer a platform capable of supporting researchers, but also to have their own portfolio of drug candidates.

While the race around this technology is now launched worldwide, France plans to play its brains in the matter.“France is not behind in the field of quantum computers.We even have an excellent breeding ground in research with in particular many people trained in physics-chemistry.We have a real role to play, ”concludes Dr Robert Marino.