Quantum computing: A new era for the life sciences sector?

Quantum computing has made some big promises. From the unveiling of the human body’s hidden secrets to near-instantaneous disease prediction systems, we’re not there yet, but the new frontier of computing might be closer than you think.

Recent breakthroughs in the world of quantum mechanical entanglement represent a scaling up of sorts, and IBM are reported to have a quantum computer available for commercial sale as early as 2025.

Is it too much hype? Or does this new tech represent a new dawn for the life sciences? Newsweek said the internet wouldn’t catch on back in 1995, making what we now know as one of the worst predictions ever made. Here’s what quantum computing could have in store for the life sciences in the not-too-distant future.

Extreme efficiency

The life sciences give the term “data-driven” a run for its buzzword status, and that’s just in clinical trials alone. Leveraging the trillions of gigabytes of medical data is no small feat, but in theory, it’s something quantum computers could handle more easily than traditional computers.

Quantum computers are not limited to the binary system of their conventional counterparts; instead they rely on quantum superposition (a principle that allows information to exist in multiple states simultaneously before it’s recovered and measured), essentially expanding on the limitations of binary. This means fewer steps will need to be taken to access and store data, speeding up the process and reducing the power needed to interpret large data sets.

A good example is Google’s Sycamore quantum computer. In 2019, Google claimed their quantum computer solved an “infeasible” problem in just 200 seconds, one that would’ve taken a conventional computer 10,000 years to tackle.

Among other factors, faster large-scale data interpretation could mean vastly more efficient clinical trials, optimised drug discovery processes, faster disease detection, improved accuracy of treatment, and better risk management.

Better patient outcomes

Better patient outcomes mean a healthier, happier humanity. It’s the ultimate goal of medicine, and much of the work done in the life sciences is focused solely on it. Quantum computers have the potential to drastically improve patient outcomes, whether through improved medical imaging analysis or personalised medicine.

A prime example can be seen through individual genetic mapping and patient treatment plans — quantum computers have the potential to analyse the huge data sets that make up patient data, from medical history to genomic information, in real time, enabling consistent treatment updates as the patient’s health status changes.

Improved small molecule drug design

Drug design and discovery is a crucial part of medicine, home to some of the most cutting-edge computational techniques found anywhere in the life sciences. Traditional algorithms are limited to the analysis of larger molecules, a limitation quantum computers won’t have. Better molecule analysis can lead to a greater level of accuracy when identifying shared traits between molecules, ultimately delivering more insight in the race to expedite drug discovery.

What does it mean for jobs in the life sciences?

As with the introduction of any significant technological advancement, exciting new career opportunities are lining up on the horizon for the life sciences. From data engineers and architects to bioprocessing, manufacturing and every aspect of drug discovery, quantum computing looks set to reshape the working world.

Partner with BioTalent

Here at BioTalent, we’re always on the lookout to partner with future-facing, tech-enabled companies, and we can’t wait to see what the future of quantum computing has in store. If you’re hoping to hire top talent in the ever-evolving life sciences space, reach out to the team below. 

Through our diversity-led hiring methodology, we can help you build the business that seizes tomorrow’s opportunities.