Xanadu Quantum Technologies and the University of Alberta are joining forces to develop quantum-computing methods aimed at speeding up the discovery of new cancer treatments.

 

The partnership will focus on designing next-generation photosensitizers — light-activated compounds used in photodynamic therapy, a non-invasive cancer treatment that can selectively target tumor cells.

 

The challenge is that finding better photosensitizers requires scientists to accurately model complex interactions between light and matter. Conventional computational methods can struggle with these interactions, while laboratory experiments can be slow and expensive.

 

Xanadu says recent work by its researchers has demonstrated the potential of quantum computers to simulate these critical light-matter interactions. The company is now working with University of Alberta chemistry professor Alex Brown to investigate whether quantum computing can help overcome some of the limitations of classical drug-discovery simulations.

 

"Current methodologies for developing effective photosensitizers are hampered by a variety of hurdles. By leveraging early fault-tolerant quantum computers to model critical light-matter interactions within photosensitizers, we are positioning quantum computing as a highly competitive method for accelerating photodynamic drug discovery," said Christian Weedbrook, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Xanadu.

 

Brown brings expertise in computational modeling and benchmarking of photosensitizer systems, while Xanadu contributes its quantum algorithms expertise. The companies say the combined effort will focus on understanding the excited-state processes that determine how effectively photosensitizers respond to light and trigger cancer-cell death.

 

“Photosensitizers are challenging systems because their performance depends on excited-state processes that are difficult to capture accurately with standard computational methods. By combining Xanadu’s quantum algorithm expertise with our experience in modeling photodynamic therapy systems, we’re excited to explore how fault-tolerant quantum computing could provide new tools for understanding and designing more effective light-activated cancer treatments,” said Professor Alex Brown, University of Alberta.

 

The partners ultimately aim to expand Xanadu’s quantum-based drug-design workflow to handle more sophisticated problems in photosensitizer development. If successful, the work could provide new computational tools for pharmaceutical research, although the companies' statements about future capabilities remain subject to technological and commercial uncertainties.