SK Biopharm has secured a large-scale AI computing infrastructure by acquiring 128 of NVIDIA's latest AI accelerators, the B200. The company plans to develop AI models specifically for drug discovery and accelerate the overall AI transformation in its research.
On September 2, SK Biopharm announced the introduction of 128 B200 units based on NVIDIA's Blackwell architecture. The computational performance of these units reaches 576 petaflops (PFLOPS) based on FP8 standards, equivalent to approximately 0.58 exaflops.
This infrastructure was obtained through a cloud subscription model via a data center cluster called 'Haein,' built by SK Telecom. The high-performance GPUs will enable faster development and operation of AI models tailored to research objectives and data characteristics.
SK Biopharm intends to focus the computational resources on enhancing its 'TR-AX' (Translational Research-AI Transformation) initiative. TR-AX aims to integrate AI into translational research, linking preclinical findings to clinical outcomes and enhancing the value of candidates in preclinical and early clinical stages.
The company plans to apply foundation models specialized in biopharmaceuticals and healthcare to real research, improving analytical capabilities regarding diseases, targets, and compounds. AI utilization will be expanded throughout the drug development process, from candidate discovery to research decision support.
In addition to research, SK Biopharm will establish a dedicated large language model (LLM) for internal operations. This initiative aims to shorten the research cycle involving experiments, analysis, and retraining, thereby enhancing productivity and decision-making efficiency.
SK Biopharm also plans to open its AI infrastructure for collaborative research with external companies, research institutions, and universities. This approach aims to broaden the scope of its AI research platform, supporting open innovation and collaboration between industry and academia.
The company is also considering commercialization strategies for its AI infrastructure and technology. Plans include expanding collaborative research and strategic partnerships, with a long-term goal of developing new business models such as AI-based research services.
Lee Dong-hoon, President of SK Biopharm, stated, "A large-scale in-house AI infrastructure is a key foundation that will determine our future competitiveness in drug development. Based on the B200 infrastructure, we will further strengthen TR-AX and maximize AI utilization throughout the drug development process to enhance research and development speed and efficiency."
Recently, SK Biopharm secured global exclusive development and commercialization rights for 'Opacalim' from the U.S. biopharmaceutical company Biohaven. The deal is valued at up to $795 million, including upfront payments and milestone payments tied to development and approval stages, with an upfront payment of $400 million.
As SK Biopharm shifts from a growth structure centered on Cenobamate (marketed as Xcopri) to actively pursuing a second blockbuster drug, key executives have demonstrated confidence in the next growth strategy by purchasing company shares.
Following the announcement of the Opacalim acquisition, President Lee purchased 2,000 shares of the company on August 27, at an average acquisition price of 90,898 won, totaling approximately 180 million won. This increased his holdings from 3,000 shares to 5,000 shares.
On September 2, SK Biopharm announced the introduction of 128 B200 units based on NVIDIA's Blackwell architecture. The computational performance of these units reaches 576 petaflops (PFLOPS) based on FP8 standards, equivalent to approximately 0.58 exaflops.
This infrastructure was obtained through a cloud subscription model via a data center cluster called 'Haein,' built by SK Telecom. The high-performance GPUs will enable faster development and operation of AI models tailored to research objectives and data characteristics.
SK Biopharm intends to focus the computational resources on enhancing its 'TR-AX' (Translational Research-AI Transformation) initiative. TR-AX aims to integrate AI into translational research, linking preclinical findings to clinical outcomes and enhancing the value of candidates in preclinical and early clinical stages.
The company plans to apply foundation models specialized in biopharmaceuticals and healthcare to real research, improving analytical capabilities regarding diseases, targets, and compounds. AI utilization will be expanded throughout the drug development process, from candidate discovery to research decision support.
In addition to research, SK Biopharm will establish a dedicated large language model (LLM) for internal operations. This initiative aims to shorten the research cycle involving experiments, analysis, and retraining, thereby enhancing productivity and decision-making efficiency.
SK Biopharm also plans to open its AI infrastructure for collaborative research with external companies, research institutions, and universities. This approach aims to broaden the scope of its AI research platform, supporting open innovation and collaboration between industry and academia.
The company is also considering commercialization strategies for its AI infrastructure and technology. Plans include expanding collaborative research and strategic partnerships, with a long-term goal of developing new business models such as AI-based research services.
Lee Dong-hoon, President of SK Biopharm, stated, "A large-scale in-house AI infrastructure is a key foundation that will determine our future competitiveness in drug development. Based on the B200 infrastructure, we will further strengthen TR-AX and maximize AI utilization throughout the drug development process to enhance research and development speed and efficiency."
Recently, SK Biopharm secured global exclusive development and commercialization rights for 'Opacalim' from the U.S. biopharmaceutical company Biohaven. The deal is valued at up to $795 million, including upfront payments and milestone payments tied to development and approval stages, with an upfront payment of $400 million.
As SK Biopharm shifts from a growth structure centered on Cenobamate (marketed as Xcopri) to actively pursuing a second blockbuster drug, key executives have demonstrated confidence in the next growth strategy by purchasing company shares.
Following the announcement of the Opacalim acquisition, President Lee purchased 2,000 shares of the company on August 27, at an average acquisition price of 90,898 won, totaling approximately 180 million won. This increased his holdings from 3,000 shares to 5,000 shares.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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