Kyowa Kirin Advances AI-Powered Drug Discovery R&D

Tokyo, Japan, August 16, 2026

AI Platform Connects Pharmaceutical Research Data

The implementation of Benchling, an AI platform for biotech R&D, is intended to provide Kyowa Kirin researchers with a unified environment for capturing structured scientific data, conducting analyses, using AI models and agents, and automating research workflows. By connecting laboratory instruments directly with the platform, experimental information can be captured as structured and searchable records, reducing dependence on manual data entry and improving access to historical research information. The platform is expected to support a broad range of activities within Kyowa Kirin’s Research Division. Researchers will be able to use the system for experiment planning, execution, data collection, molecular design, reporting, and analysis of relationships across research activities. Integrating these capabilities into a common environment could help researchers spend less time managing fragmented information and more time evaluating scientific results and developing potential therapeutic candidates. The collaboration reflects the increasing adoption of AI and digital platforms across pharmaceutical research, particularly as drug discovery programs generate increasingly complex datasets. For pharmaceutical organizations, connecting experimental information with AI-enabled analysis can provide opportunities to improve research reproducibility, accelerate decision-making, and make greater use of accumulated scientific knowledge.

Cognizant Supports Digital R&D Transformation

Cognizant will provide implementation and technology support across the deployment lifecycle, working with Benchling to establish the platform, migrate existing data, implement workflows, and provide ongoing maintenance. The companies will also work to optimize data flows as Kyowa Kirin’s research operations expand. A key objective is to improve researcher productivity and data standardization across Kyowa Kirin’s research environments. By integrating scientific data and workflows, the companies expect to establish more consistent processes for managing experiments and research information. The implementation is also intended to provide greater cost predictability and flexible cost management as the company’s R&D operations evolve. The collaboration demonstrates how pharmaceutical companies are increasingly combining AI platforms, structured scientific data, laboratory automation, and enterprise technology services to modernize drug discovery infrastructure. Rather than treating AI as a standalone research tool, the implementation places AI capabilities directly within laboratory and R&D workflows.

Kyowa Kirin Strengthens Next-Generation Drug Discovery

Kyowa Kirin is a global specialty pharmaceutical company focused on therapeutic areas including bone and mineral disorders, intractable hematologic diseases, hemato-oncology, and rare diseases. The company is also pursuing innovative modalities such as advanced antibody technologies and hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy, increasing the need for sophisticated research and data-management capabilities. The new platform is expected to help accelerate the research cycle from drug discovery target identification through candidate selection. Access to years of experimental history combined with AI-enabled analysis could allow researchers to identify relationships and patterns across previously generated research data while supporting new molecular design activities.

The implementation also supports Kyowa Kirin’s broader goal of creating a next-generation drug discovery foundation capable of continuously generating innovative medicines. By standardizing research workflows and structuring scientific data, the company aims to create an environment where researchers can more efficiently collaborate and make evidence-informed decisions. For the pharmaceutical industry, the partnership highlights the growing importance of AI-enabled R&D infrastructure in supporting modern drug discovery. As research programs become more data-intensive and therapeutic modalities become more sophisticated, integrated platforms that connect laboratory operations, scientific data, automation, and AI may play an increasingly important role in pharmaceutical innovation. The collaboration between Kyowa Kirin, Cognizant, and Benchling therefore represents a significant digital transformation initiative within pharmaceutical R&D, with the potential to improve research efficiency and support the development of future medicines.

Source: Kyowa Kirin, Cognizant press relese