Claude Did Not Create a Scorpion Antivenom

What happened

Citrini Research and Anthropic tested whether an unreleased version of Claude could help create scorpion antivenom, but the experiment did not produce a drug. Claude generated protein designs, and 17 bound to four of the five targeted toxins; binding does not show that they neutralize toxins or can become safe, effective treatments. Researchers told The Verge that turning the promising results into medicine remains a long, challenging process.

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The story so far

Citrini Research and Anthropic tested protein designs generated by an unreleased version of Claude, finding that 17 bound to four of five targeted scorpion toxins, but the experiment did not produce an antivenom drug. Citrini sent the designs to two outside laboratories, Swiss biotech company Adaptyv Bio and US-based Twist Biosciences, to test whether the proteins bound to their intended targets. Binding is a step toward developing antivenom, but it does not establish that the proteins neutralize toxins or could become safe, effective treatments. Researchers told The Verge that turning the promising results into medicine remains a long, challenging process.