Anthropic Confirms Biology Lab Setup, Claude Reportedly to Try Controlling Robots for Experiments

TradingKey - According to a Reuters report on September 18, Anthropic has established a wet lab in the San Francisco Bay Area to move Claude further beyond computational analysis into physical biological experiments.

[Source: Reuters]

Eric Kauderer-Abrams, head of life sciences at Anthropic, confirmed that the company is conducting experiments at its own facilities and collaborating with external institutions. He noted that physical experimentation remains the ultimate test of biological research findings, and that exploring the use of AI to automate lab work is still in its early stages.

According to a person familiar with the matter, Anthropic aims to allow Claude to control robots to perform scientific experiments, reducing the manual labor required in the process. In response, Anthropic stated that human oversight and involvement remain crucial for ensuring experimental safety.

Laboratory Is Not Exclusively Used for Drug Discovery

An Anthropic spokesperson stated that the new lab is not dedicated solely to drug discovery. The company is expanding its investment in life sciences, spanning drug R&D tools, lab automation, and biological data analysis. Anthropic previously stated that it will conduct preclinical research in areas where traditional pharmaceutical companies invest less due to limited commercial returns.

The company has launched Claude for Life Sciences, enabling Claude to connect to scientific research platforms including Benchling, PubMed, BioRender, and 10x Genomics. Meanwhile, the Model Hardware Standard released in August 2026 is used to help AI systems operate laboratory equipment.

Anthropic also confirmed the acquisition of biotech startup Coefficient Bio, but did not disclose the transaction value. Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan has joined Anthropic's board of directors. The company is providing AI tools and services to pharmaceutical companies including Genentech, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Novo Nordisk.

Anthropic hopes to use AI to accelerate research on undruggable targets and multispecific antibodies. The company has not yet disclosed specific diseases, drug candidates, or experimental progress, nor is it conducting clinical trials at this stage.

Key focus areas going forward include the stability of Claude in controlling laboratory equipment, human oversight mechanisms, and whether experimental data can advance preclinical research.