Arieh Warshel, a Nobel Laureate in Chemistry in 2013, has called for greater usage of artificial intelligence (AI) to drive breakthroughs in innovative drug development, while emphasizing the need to maintain strict safety standards.
Warshel on Friday attended a session on "International Drug Safety Governance and China's Drug Regulatory Reform" of the ninth Hongqiao International Economic Forum, held as part of the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.
Speaking to China Media Group (CMG), Warshel praised China for its abundant clinical resources, complete industrial chain, and large pool of young research talent.
"I am extremely impressed from the rapid growth and the investment in this pharmaceutical direction. I am involved essentially with the two companies that try to do it. The people who are working on it, especially in the AI directions, are extremely knowledgeable. So there must be a future outcome from this," he said.
China's innovative drugs have gained rapid growth over the years. In 2025, more than 2,900 clinical trials for new drugs were registered nationwide, a rise of 18 percent year on year and a record high in scale. The number of clinical trials of cell and gene therapies grew by about 30 percent last year, highlighting strong activity in cutting-edge areas of drug development.
Warshel highlighted the potential of AI to accelerate research and development, while stressing holding the bottom line of safety.
"In this case, AI could be very useful, might accelerate the R and D, but first you have to show that this works. If you could do the drug test on a computer rather than on a mouse, and you prove that it works equally well. This is clearly a direction which is very promising," he said.
He also noted that computational science and AI have the potential to shorten the new-drug development cycle, while cautioning against the pursuit of quick results.
"Essentially one of the difficulties in big pharma is that they don't let you study the same problem for too long. If you do not find a solution, you move to another thing. In all the great discoveries like the Nobel Prize and so on, that I know well because people spend more than three years on the same problem they start, so you need support for it to stay on the same problem," said Warshel.
Nobel laureate calls for expanded AI use in drug development at CIIE
Buyer-seller matchmaking events at the ongoing 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai are helping new and veteran global exhibitors connect with Chinese buyers and navigate market opportunities, as the annual trade fair continues to serve as a gateway for businesses to tap into the world's second-largest consumer market.
The expo, held from Nov. 5 to 10, brings together 4,142 overseas exhibitors, offering a glimpse into the diversity and creativity of global products.
More than 150 purchasers turned out to scout products at a series of matchmaking events during this year's CIIE, as one-on-one business meetings accelerate the flow of quality goods from around the world into China's vast market.
"This year, more than 150 buyers signed up for the VIP Buyers Selection Events and Buyers' Zone during the 9th CIIE, with the overall scale expanding by nearly 20 percent. It's been incredibly busy -- just look at the big screen: the total number of matchmaking rounds has already reached nearly 400," said Zhu Yunxin, a staff member at the Investment Promotion Office of the China International Import Expo Bureau.
Emilio Mendez from Chile is a veteran exhibitor who has attended every edition of the CIIE. This year he brought more than a dozen products from his country, including red wine and honey. On the first day of the expo, more than 50 new and returning customers visited his booth.
"This year, I've seen more than 30 percent more Chinese buyers than in previous years. If a product from abroad offers good value for money, it sells quickly in China," the exhibitor said.
Mendez is just one of the fair veterans who has expanded his exhibit selection at this year's event. After experiencing success at previous editions, Swiss air purification company IQAir has brought its latest model.
"So this is our seventh time at the CIIE and we always bring something special because we know this event is very important. And this year we brought the Atem Earth Plus. It's the world's first high-performance air purifier with a wood housing," said Frank Hammes, Global CEO of the Swiss air purification company IQAir.
Representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have also attended the fair in recent years, using it as a platform to source purchases for their global operations. At this year's edition, the UNDP has brought its own exhibit for the first time.
UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo said the exhibit is also helping promote the UNDP's soon-to-open Global Centre for Sustainable Development in Shanghai.
"That is a center that is here in Shanghai, but it is working for the rest of the world. It's leveraging Shanghai's incredible innovation capacity. It's leveraging also your connectiveness to the rest of the world," said De Croo.
Launched in 2018 as the world's first national-level expo dedicated to imports, the CIIE has become an important gateway for foreign businesses seeking access to China's vast consumer and industrial markets.
Buyer-seller matchmaking events at 9th CIIE help global exhibitors navigate market opportunities
