Traditional drug development can cost $2.6 billion and up to 14 years. AI is cutting both drastically. By automating data analysis, candidate design, and candidate filtering, AI reduces lab time, trial costs, and attrition rates. Virtual screening and predictive toxicity tools eliminate weak leads early, while AI-driven synthesis and assay optimization accelerate workflows. Overall, AI-powered pipelines are slashing development timeframes from decades to under a decade—speeding patient access to breakthrough therapies.