Phare Bio, a pioneering biotech social venture, has been honored with Newsweek’s prestigious AI Impact Award for “Most Innovative Technology or Service.” This accolade celebrates Phare Bio’s groundbreaking application of generative AI to revolutionize antibiotic discovery, directly addressing the urgent global health crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The award recognizes Phare Bio’s innovative platform, developed in partnership with the renowned Collins Lab at MIT. This cutting-edge technology is transforming the traditional drug discovery paradigm by designing entirely new classes of antibiotics.
To date, the collaboration has led to the discovery of three novel antibiotic classes, including the very first antibiotic ever identified using AI. These candidates are now being advanced toward preclinical development to combat some of the world’s most drug-resistant bacterial infections.
Dr. Akhila Kosaraju, President and CEO of Phare Bio, expressed profound gratitude for the recognition. “This award from Newsweek is an incredible honor and a testament to what’s possible when we combine cutting-edge AI with a commitment to bring urgently needed antibiotics to patients,” she stated.
“Antimicrobial resistance is a significant public health threat. Our goal is to rebuild the global antibiotic pipeline – and do it in a way that prioritizes innovation and urgency.”
What sets Phare Bio apart is its unique operational model as a nonprofit, committed to open-sourcing its AI models to democratize antibiotic discovery.
This distinctive approach has garnered significant support from various organizations, including funding from Google.org, The Audacious Project, and a substantial $27 million award from ARPA-H. The venture was also recently recognized on Fast Company’s 2025 World Changing Ideas list.
As antibiotic resistance continues to accelerate and conventional research and development struggles to keep pace, Phare Bio is demonstrating that open, AI-driven science can unlock the breakthroughs desperately needed.
This innovation offers new hope in the ongoing fight against superbugs and underscores the transformative potential of AI in addressing critical global challenges.
