Deep Origin’s Balto AI Assistant offers bespoke drug discovery tools via a chat interface

After the debut of ChatGPT and GPT-4, pharma leaders began exploring generative AI’s potential to accelerate drug development, though many remain cautious due to regulatory and data security concerns. To bridge the gap between general-purpose LLMs and domain-specific needs, Deep Origin developed Balto, an AI assistant built for drug discovery that integrates specialized molecular modeling, docking, and property prediction tools like BiosimDock, BiosimVS, and BiosimProps. Balto enables scientists to query complex biochemical problems—such as optimizing solubility or binding affinity—through a conversational interface, outperforming competing models on docking accuracy. Deep Origin’s co-founder and CSO, Dr. Garegin Papoian, envisions AI tools like Balto democratizing drug discovery by empowering smaller labs with capabilities once reserved for large pharma, while also emphasizing the need for transparency, proof, and interdisciplinary expertise that unites computer science with biology and chemistry. He predicts that as these tools mature, early adopters will gain a significant advantage, driving a more open and data-driven era in drug development.