In a groundbreaking development that could transform healthcare as we know it, OpenAI has been meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to discuss how artificial intelligence might accelerate drug evaluations and approvals.

The discussions center around a project dubbed "cderGPT"-likely named after the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research-which aims to modernize the notoriously lengthy drug approval process. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has been vocal about the need for change, asking:

"Why does it take over 10 years for a new drug to come to market? Why are we not modernized with AI?"

According to Wired, a small team from OpenAI has met with FDA officials multiple times in recent weeks, with representatives from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) also participating in the talks.

The timing is significant-Makary announced this week that the FDA has already completed its first AI-assisted scientific review for a product, with plans to implement the process agency-wide by summer 2025.

For patients waiting for breakthrough treatments, this collaboration could mean faster access to life-saving medications, particularly for conditions like diabetes and certain cancers. If successful, this partnership could represent one of the most significant modernizations of drug approval in decades.