OpenAI acquires Orchestra Bio for drug development

OpenAI has acquired Orchestra Bio, a San Francisco-based startup founded in 2022 that builds AI agents for pharmaceutical development programs. Orchestra's staff and technology will join OpenAI's Rosalind life sciences unit. The agents monitor clinical studies, track finances, and manage trial scheduling. OpenAI cited the 10-to-15-year average drug approval timeline as motivation, noting Orchestra's software can model responses to setbacks like failed manufacturing batches. Terms were not disclosed. Orchestra had raised $20 million from investors including Andreessen Horowitz. Novo Nordisk and Moderna already work with OpenAI's Rosalind platform.