Sandra Barbosu

A study published in Nature in May 2026 offers an important advance in AI-enabled drug development, one that merits careful attention from both the research community and policymakers. The study introduces Robin, and deserves policymakers’ attention because systems like Robin could reshape early-stage drug discovery, but only if policy supports the data, infrastructure, regulation, and incentives needed to scale them.

Historically, many breakthrough medicines originated from studying nature. In fact, more than half of all small molecule drugs approved between 1981 and 2019 were derived from or inspired by natural products, according to a review in the Journal of Natural Products. Penicillin originated from mold, the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel from a yew tree, and cyclosporine—the immunosuppressant that enabled organ transplantation—from a soil fungus.

KEY TAKEAWAYS Europe’s biopharmaceutical leadership eroded due to detrimental policy choices such as stringent price controls that weakened innovation incentives. Global leadership then shifted to the United States, which had developed a more supportive environment. Price controls come with major costs. Europe’s policies led to fewer new drugs, delayed drug launches, reduced R&D investment, and large losses in high-value life sciences jobs.