JERUSALEM, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Teva Pharmaceutical

Industries said on Wednesday it was calling on

startups to join its new platform to develop technologies to

deal with a host of challenges facing Teva and the global

pharmaceuticals industry.

Called Teva Rise, the company's open innovation platform

aims to accelerate innovations such as AI, digital health, smart

manufacturing and biotech, and will connect startups and tech

companies with Teva's business units, it said.

Under the programme, Israel-based Teva - the

world's largest generic drugs company that also has its own

branded treatments - seeks to create solutions for seven

challenges in R&D, manufacturing, supply chain and commercial.

Among them include human platforms as alternatives for

animal models in pre-clinical drug development, using AI and

machine learning to simulate clinical trial outcomes, and

exploring digital health tools and smart devices that monitor

patients' long-acting injectable medicines that would result in

improved treatment and lower healthcare costs.

"By partnering with start-ups across the globe, we can

unlock smarter solutions and innovation," said Mark Sabag, vice

president at Teva International Markets.

He said that through the programme, Teva would forge global

partnerships with startups and technology leaders and channel

tens of millions of dollars into solutions that "will not only

strengthen our business but also deliver meaningful value to

patients worldwide."

"By embracing open innovation and investing ambitiously, we

are building a sustainable competitive advantage for Teva and

shaping the future of healthcare," he added.

Teva noted that the launch of its new platform comes at a

pivotal moment for the drugs sector as AI and digital

transformation reshape and accelerate drug development,

manufacturing and patient care.