Telefónica, Vithas Foundation and the Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV) have promoted a pioneering project that uses quantum computing for the intelligent design of anti-cancer drugs.
The objective is to combat the BRAF V600E mutation, an altered protein that drives the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells, by generating molecules that inhibit the action of said protein. To achieve this, this multidisciplinary team has developed a hybrid model that combines conventional artificial intelligence with quantum computing, taking advantage of the properties of quantum physics to generate drug candidates with a precision and quality far superior to current methods.
This project represents a technological milestone and a relevant advance to expedite the development of critical treatments in oncology and for other complex diseases, demonstrating the real potential of quantum computing applied to health.
Strategic innovation space
The work for the development of the project has been coordinated from the Javier Echenique Talent and Technology Center, a new strategic space for advanced innovation created by Telefónica and located in Bilbao, which places Spain at the European forefront in quantum computing and applied quantum technologies.
Drug discovery using traditional experimental methods involves long development times and a high discard rate, since only a very small number of drug candidate molecules manage to reach the most advanced phases of development. In this context, quantum computing emerges as a key tool to transform these processes.
In the project, a classical neural network (called LSTM or Long Short-Term Memory) acts as an ‘architect’ that builds molecules and, at the same time, takes advantage of the broad creative vision of a quantum circuit (QCBM – Quantum Circuit Born Machine). This hybrid approach, based on quantum computing, allows us to obtain a list of high-quality candidate molecules and evaluate them through chemical filters with the advantage of significantly shortening drug research and development times. The work carried out so far has obtained very promising preliminary results, in which the molecules obtained improve in practically all the parameters involved in the evaluation of a potential drug thanks to the use of quantum computing.
Towards more efficient and precise medicine
This innovation pilot unites the connectivity and computing capabilities of Telefónica, the clinical experience of Vithas and the knowledge of molecular biology of the UFV to position Spain as a reference in the use of quantum computing applied to oncology.
Juan Cambeiro, head of Applied Quantum Projects at Telefónica Spain, highlights: “This initiative demonstrates how quantum computing has ceased to be a theory and has become a tool with real possibilities in sectors such as health, industry, logistics or banking. At Telefónica we are committed to putting quantum technology at the service of our clients in a practical way and applied to real challenges. By hybridizing in this project traditional Machine Learning techniques with quantum circuits, typical of quantum computing, we not only reduce processing times. research, but we open the door to more efficient and accessible medicine.”
The project represents a technological milestone and a relevant advance to expedite the development of critical treatments in oncology and for other complex diseases.
For his part, Ángel Ayuso, corporate scientific director of Vithas and director of the Vithas Foundation, points out: “In this framework, the collaboration with Telefónica and UFV to incorporate quantum computing represents a differential leap: it allows us to refine the selection of structures with a greater probability of success and accelerate the path in the preclinical development of more effective and precise treatments.”
Jorge Plazas, professor at the Higher Polytechnic School of the Francisco de Vitoria University, adds: “The adoption of quantum computing constitutes a paradigm shift in the management and processing of information. At the current stage of its development, this technology can already offer tangible advantages in specific application domains.”
