Merck’s new pill vs. cholesterol: A $800M bet on AI

An AI-focused venture capital firm has raised $800 million to invest in drug development, even as pharmaceutical giant Merck pushes forward with a new cholesterol pill. The moves come amid a broader industry effort to soften potential U.S. restrictions on Chinese biotech. Merck’s experimental cholesterol drug targets a new pathway to lower “bad” LDL cholesterol, aiming to offer an alternative to statins. Meanwhile, the $800 million fund—one of the largest ever for AI-driven biotech—will back companies using artificial intelligence to speed up drug discovery and clinical trials. The timing is notable: U.S. lawmakers are considering rules that could limit American companies from working with Chinese biotech firms, citing national security. Many drugmakers are lobbying to keep those restrictions narrow, arguing that cutting ties would slow innovation and raise drug costs. For now, the industry is betting that AI and new pill pipelines can deliver results—regardless of where the political winds blow.