Cleveland Clinic, RIKEN And IBM Model a 12,635-Atom Protein — The Largest Known to Be Simulated With Quantum Computers

Insider Brief

• Scientists from Cleveland Clinic, RIKEN, and IBM used a quantum-centric supercomputing approach to simulate protein complexes of up to 12,635 atoms, marking the largest biologically relevant molecular simulations performed with quantum hardware to date.
• The team achieved a roughly 40-fold increase in simulation size and up to 210-fold improvement in accuracy within six months by combining quantum processors with classical supercomputers and a new hybrid algorithm.
• The results demonstrate early practical value for quantum computing in drug discovery by improving the ability to model protein–drug interactions, a key challenge in reducing the cost and timeline of developing new medicines.

PRESS RELEASE — Scientists at Cleveland Clinic, RIKEN, and IBM (NYSE: IBM) have used IBM quantum computers and two of the world’s most powerful supercomputers to simulate protein complexes spanning up to 12,635 atoms. These are the largest-known simulations…