Medicine has always sought methods that are faster, more precise, and safer. But developing drugs and treatments is often a long and expensive process. Right now, it can take more than 10 years and cost billions of dollars to design and approve a new drug.
With the advent of quantum computing, this trend could change dramatically. Quantum computers have the ability to simulate molecules in a way that is almost impossible for classical computers. These simulations allow researchers to understand much more quickly which compounds might have a therapeutic effect.
Applications of quantum medicine
Drug discovery: designing new drug molecules for complex diseases such as cancer or Alzheimer’s.
Personalized therapy: analyzing each person’s genetic data to choose the best treatment.
Medical imaging: upgrading MRI and CT scans to much more precise versions that show even the smallest changes in tissue.
Prevention: Modeling the body and predicting the likelihood of developing diseases before they occur.
In the not-so-distant future, quantum medicine could move medicine from general treatments to precision and personalized treatments.