Chinese Quantum Firm Origin Quantum Applies Tech to Breast Cancer and Drug Design

Chinese quantum computing company Origin Quantum has demonstrated its technology’s potential in biomedical applications, including breast cancer screening and drug development.

Credit: Origin Quantum

The Hefei-based firm, backed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, used its Origin Wukong quantum computer to process high-dimensional medical imaging data for mammography screening. According to a report by China News Service, the system performed “exponentially faster” than traditional computers, addressing issues such as high false-positive rates and inefficiency.

Origin Quantum also collaborated with Fudan University and other institutions to explore quantum computing’s role in small molecule drug design and crystal structure prediction. The company has launched tools that can predict drug toxicity and analyse drug interactions, said Deputy Director Zhao Xuejiao.

Quantum computers use the principles of quantum mechanics to solve complex problems more efficiently than classical machines. Biomedicine is considered one of the most promising fields for quantum applications.

In September, the US National Institutes of Health launched the Quantum Biomedical Innovations and Technologies programme to promote the use of quantum-based technologies in healthcare.

Origin Quantum’s progress comes amid China’s broader push for technological self-sufficiency, as the US increases restrictions on Chinese tech development.

In May last year, the US Department of Commerce added Origin Quantum to a trade blacklist, citing attempts to acquire US-origin items to enhance China’s quantum capabilities.

The Origin Wukong system, launched in Jan. 2023, is over 80% localised in hardware, chips, operating system and application software, according to the company’s website.

In Oct., Origin Quantum announced that its self-developed 72-qubit chip had been operating stably on the Origin Wukong for nine months. The company also revealed plans to expand its chip production and quantum computer assembly lines.

Founded in 2017 in Hefei, Anhui province, Origin Quantum was established by quantum physicists Guo Guoping and Guo Guangcan from the University of Science and Technology of China.

The company is financially supported by state-owned funds, including the China Internet Investment Fund and Shenzhen Capital Group.

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• Origin Quantum used its quantum computer for breast cancer screening and drug design

• The system processes medical imaging data faster than traditional machines

• Collaborations include Fudan University for drug development research

Source: SCMP