“We didn’t start Model to launch a company—we started it because no one else met our standards,” says Dr. Daniel Haders II, CEO and founder of Model Medicines. This bold statement set the tone for an insightful discussion on Bloomberg Intelligence’s latest podcast episode of Vanguards of Health Care, hosted by Andrew Galler.

In this engaging conversation, Dr. Haders explores the groundbreaking journey behind Model Medicines' unique AI-native drug discovery platform. Central to their approach is GALILEO™, an innovative generative AI platform that identifies cryptic binding pockets previously overlooked in traditional drug discovery efforts. This ability allows Model Medicines to create highly specific, first-in-class therapeutics with unprecedented speed and accuracy.

Dr. Haders emphasizes the critical interplay between novelty and hit rates, a core belief guiding the development of the company’s robust therapeutic pipeline. Highlighting their flagship antiviral candidate, MDL-001, he underscores its game-changing potential: MDL-001 demonstrates powerful broad-spectrum activity across multiple viral families—including SARS-CoV-2, Influenza, Norovirus, and Hepatitis C—while being orally bioavailable, safe, and exceptionally well-tolerated.

Listeners gain deep insights into the strategic importance of the RdRp Thumb-1 cryptic site targeted by MDL-001, a highly conserved, druggable region of viral RNA polymerases discovered by Model Medicines. Preclinical studies have validated MDL-001’s potency, showing significantly higher viral load reduction compared to standard-of-care antivirals, positioning it as a best-in-class therapeutic capable of reshaping pandemic preparedness and response.

In a notable reflection on AI methodologies, Dr. Haders clarifies why generalizability—not reinforcement learning—is the true litmus test for AI-driven biotech innovation. Model Medicines’ GALILEO™ platform exemplifies this principle, consistently delivering exceptional results across diverse disease targets and therapeutic needs.

This illuminating conversation is part of Bloomberg Intelligence’s Vanguards of Health Care series, dedicated to spotlighting leaders and innovators at the forefront of health care transformation. Dr. Haders’ insights offer a compelling vision of how artificial intelligence will continue to revolutionize drug discovery, setting new benchmarks for therapeutic development.