❯ Claude designs scorpion-toxin binders, with 17 of 211 tested designs meeting the criteria

Binding has been experimentally demonstratedAnthropic published research on October 21 using an internal Claude model with Citrini Research to design small proteins against five scorpion neurotoxins. External laboratories tested 211 designs; 17 met the binding criteria, each targeting one of four toxins. The results do not yet constitute an antivenom.

AI organized design and screeningRunning mostly autonomously within Claude Science for about 64 hours, the model used 12 design tools to generate more than 310,000 candidates and selected 180 for testing. Researchers added 31 with Claude’s help. An initial prompt and four follow-ups guided the work; Twist Bioscience and Adaptyv Bio produced and tested the proteins.

The hardest objective remains unmetNo candidate met the criteria for binding multiple toxins. Tests used laboratory-produced toxins, and the proteins have not been tested for cellular toxin neutralization or protection in animals. Further work must establish whether they block toxicity and meet requirements for safety, stability and manufacturing cost.

Data are available for follow-upThe team released all 211 designs and experimental data. Commercial incentives for scorpion-antivenom research are limited, and AI can expand the range of candidates explored. The study demonstrates a workflow from computational design to external laboratory testing; therapeutic value requires subsequent drug-development work.

▮ SIGNALAI can now turn extensive computational exploration into testable protein candidates, concentrating more of the remaining challenge in functional validation and drug development.