Platform supports molecular design, simulation, bioinformatics, and research data management
Company aims to strengthen proprietary AI capabilities and intellectual property through accumulated research data
As artificial intelligence reshapes pharmaceutical research and development, Dong-A Socio Group has launched its first in-house AI-powered drug discovery platform, aiming to improve research productivity while building long-term competitiveness in novel drug development.
The Group announced on July 29 that its IT affiliate DAI and pharmaceutical subsidiary Dong-A ST have completed development of the AI Drug Discovery Platform (AIDDP) and officially begun operating the system.
Rather than functioning as a standalone AI tool, AIDDP serves as an integrated research environment that supports the entire early-stage drug discovery process—from candidate molecule design and prediction to simulation, visualization, and research data management.
The platform replaces conventional workflows that required researchers to use multiple independent software tools by bringing key drug discovery processes together within a unified digital environment.
AIDDP incorporates Dong-A ST's accumulated expertise in drug discovery, computational biology, and research workflows, together with AI-based molecular design and analytical modules. This enables researchers to conduct candidate screening, evaluate interactions between compounds and target proteins, and analyze molecular stability through a single platform.
Its core capabilities include visualization of biological data based on single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, AI-assisted generation and design of novel compounds, prediction of binding affinity between candidate molecules and target proteins, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, and integrated management of research projects, analytical results, and computational histories.
According to the company, one of the platform's key strategic advantages is its ability to accumulate research data and analytical outcomes as proprietary digital assets. Those datasets will be used to continuously improve AI models, identify new drug candidates, and reduce reliance on external software solutions while strengthening the company's own intellectual property portfolio.
Dong-A Socio Group also plans to expand AIDDP into a common AI research platform that can be shared across multiple subsidiaries and research organizations within the Group.
Future upgrades will include large-scale virtual compound screening, AI-powered searches of scientific papers, patents, and internal research databases, as well as Agentic AI functions capable of assisting researchers with literature exploration, data analysis, interpretation, and scientific decision-making.
The company ultimately aims to develop AIDDP into an advanced AI research platform that supports scientists throughout the entire discovery process while improving research efficiency and increasing the probability of successful drug development.
"The AIDDP represents the first proprietary AI drug discovery platform developed within Dong-A Socio Group by combining Dong-A ST's research expertise with DAI's AI and information technology capabilities," said Han Hye-jin, President of DAI. "Its significance goes beyond using AI as a research tool. It marks the starting point for transforming our research workflows and converting internal data and scientific expertise into strategic digital assets and proprietary intellectual property."
Jung Jae-hoon, President of Dong-A ST, said the platform establishes a foundation for reducing the time required to optimize drug candidates during the early stages of drug discovery while improving the likelihood of success.
"We will continue to incorporate feedback from researchers to enhance the platform's capabilities and usability," he said. "Our goal is to develop AIDDP into a core AI-driven R&D infrastructure that strengthens Dong-A ST's long-term competitiveness in innovative drug development."
As pharmaceutical companies increasingly integrate artificial intelligence into research, many are moving beyond adopting external AI solutions to developing proprietary platforms that leverage their own scientific data and accumulated research expertise. Dong-A Socio Group's latest initiative reflects this broader industry shift toward building in-house AI ecosystems capable of accelerating innovation while creating sustainable intellectual property and competitive advantages.
