Anthropic launches Claude Science AI platform for researchers, expands into drug discovery

Anthropic has introduced Claude Science, a new artificial intelligence-powered research platform aimed at helping scientists manage complex research workflows, analyse data and accelerate scientific discovery. This is the company's latest expansion into life sciences and healthcare.Designed as a dedicated workbench for researchers, Claude Science brings together scientific databases, coding tools, computing resources and research workflows within a single interface. The platform is intended to reduce the time spent switching between multiple software tools while improving the efficiency of research tasks.According to Anthropic, the platform enables researchers to review scientific literature, perform data analyses, generate figures and manuscripts, and maintain traceability by linking results back to the underlying source code and computing environment.Claude Science comes preloaded with access to more than 60 scientific databases and supports specialised scientific visualisations, including 3D protein structures, genome browser tracks and chemistry diagrams. The company said the platform is powered by its existing Claude family of AI models, which have undergone its standard safety and biosecurity evaluations before deployment.The launch builds on Anthropic's broader life sciences and healthcare initiative, which the company began developing in late 2025 as it sought to expand the use of generative AI beyond enterprise productivity applications.Anthropic said early users participating in the platform's beta programme, including research organisations and commercial partners, have reported notable improvements in research efficiency, although the company did not disclose specific performance metrics.Alongside the software launch, Anthropic also announced plans to establish its own pre-clinical drug development programmes focused on neglected diseases. Speaking during a press briefing, Eric Kauderer-Abrams, the company's head of life sciences, said the initiative would target conditions that often receive limited commercial attention despite imposing a significant global health burden.(Inputs from Reuters)Also read: Anthropic hires Orange’s AI chief Steve Jarrett