Hybrid artificial intelligence and quantum annealing as an optimization layer in drug discovery

Artificial intelligence (AI) has greatly expanded the generative capacity of drug discovery, yet the ability to translate large candidate pools into structured, resource-aware decisions remains limited. This review addresses this emerging optimization bottleneck by examining quantum annealing as a potential decision-optimization layer within hybrid computational workflows. We focus on discrete, constraint-dominated tasks—such as compound subset selection, combinatorial design, and multi-objective prioritization—that can be formulated as quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) problems. Rather than positioning quantum annealing as a predictive tool, we analyze its role as a complementary optimization interface integrated with AI-generated scores. We further discuss practical implementation considerations, including embedding overhead, noise, scalability, and benchmarking challenges. By emphasizing workflow-level design and rigorous evaluation, this review provides a pragmatic framework for assessing annealing-based optimization in drug discovery and related data-intensive scientific domains.