#USA #London #AI Technology #Isomorphic Labs #Drug Design

Isomorphic Labs Secures $600 Million in Funding

Isomorphic Labs, a pioneering company focused on AI-driven drug design, has recently announced the successful acquisition of $600 million in its first external funding round. This funding, led by the investment firm Thrive Capital and joined by GV and existing backer Alphabet, marks a significant milestone for the company as it looks to further develop its next-generation AI drug design engine and expedite its therapeutic program advancements into clinical testing.

Founded with the ambition to harness the power of artificial intelligence in drug discovery, Isomorphic Labs aims to revolutionize the industry by speeding up the processes necessary to introduce critical treatments to millions of patients worldwide. With the latest funding, Isomorphic Labs plans to bolster its AI drug design capabilities through groundbreaking research and development, as well as scale its pipeline of drug candidates.

CEO and founder, Sir Demis Hassabis, expressed his excitement about partnering with top-tier investors who possess profound expertise in both AI and life sciences. In his remarks, he stated, "This funding will significantly enhance the development of our advanced AI drug design engine, allowing us to push our programs forward into the clinical phase and further our mission of potentially resolving various diseases with AI technology."

Since its establishment, Isomorphic Labs has made substantial strides in developing innovative AI models. One notable achievement includes the unveiling of AlphaFold 3 in May 2024, a breakthrough model co-developed with Google DeepMind, capable of accurately predicting the structures and interactions of various biological molecules. This model represents a leap forward in leveraging AI technology for drug discovery and is part of a larger portfolio that includes collaborative efforts with industry giants such as Eli Lilly and Novartis, as well as self-directed projects primarily in the fields of oncology and immunology.

The expansion of the collaboration with Novartis is particularly noteworthy, having extended just over a year since their initial partnership began. This highlights the increasing alignment between Isomorphic Labs and leading pharmaceutical companies as they work towards common goals in drug development.

Thrive Capital's founder and CEO, Joshua Kushner, emphasized their commitment to supporting Isomorphic Labs due to its unique position to foster a new era in drug discovery and development. He remarked, "We are inspired by Isomorphic’s mission and the remarkable progress they’ve made thus far."

In addition to enhancing its AI-driven drug design engine, the funding will enable Isomorphic Labs to expand its team of world-class talent, further positioning them for growth in upcoming phases. Dr. Krishna Yeshwant, a managing partner at GV, highlighted that while AI and machine learning have long been poised for transforming drug discovery, very few entities have truly unlocked their full potential. He expressed confidence that Isomorphic’s groundbreaking approach and leadership under Sir Demis Hassabis would set the benchmark for AI-enabled drug development.

About Isomorphic Labs

Founded in 2021, Isomorphic Labs has set out with a mission to transform drug discovery through artificial intelligence, aspiring to bring unprecedented biomedical advancements to the healthcare landscape. The company’s leadership comes from its pioneering founder, Sir Demis Hassabis, whose groundbreaking work includes the Nobel-winning AI model, AlphaFold, and continual advancements in AI capabilities for varied therapeutic applications. Headquartered in London, with a presence in Lausanne, Switzerland, Isomorphic Labs is simultaneously building a robust portfolio of drug discovery programs that push the boundaries of what is achievable in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

For more information about Isomorphic Labs and their innovative approach to drug design, please visit Isomorphic Labs and follow their updates on LinkedIn and X.