#Singapore #Drug Discovery #ChemLex #AI-Driven Lab

ChemLex Opens Self-Driving Lab in Singapore

ChemLex, an innovative AI-for-science startup, has taken a major leap forward with the launch of its global headquarters and self-driving laboratory in Singapore. Supported by an impressive funding of USD 45 million from Granite Asia, ChemLex aims to revolutionize drug discovery through advanced automation and AI technologies.

Founded in 2022, ChemLex has rapidly ascended in the AI-driven chemical discovery space. With over 70 clients globally, including six of the top ten pharmaceutical firms, the company exemplifies a significant shift toward technology in drug development, projecting the AI-powered drug discovery market to soar from USD 3.6 billion in 2024 to nearly USD 50 billion by 2034.

The company's cutting-edge platform features a fully automated synthesis line that operates 24/7, drastically reducing the time frames traditionally required for chemical discovery. This leads to not only enhanced cost-efficiency but also remarkable sustainability improvements over conventional laboratory practices. The autonomous chemistry system allows for seamless experimental workflows, capturing real-time data to continuously improve the discovery process.

Sean Lin, ChemLex's Founder and CEO, expressed the company's ambitious vision: "We are building a research and development engine that compresses the synthesis and optimization timeline from months down to weeks or even days. Our presence in Singapore enhances our capacity to scale swiftly and support global partners urgently seeking these advancements."

The funding will also facilitate the recruitment of additional hardware and software engineers, alongside chemists, to manage an increased pipeline of pharmaceutical and materials science projects emanating from its new Singapore base.

Moreover, ChemLex has forged a pivotal partnership with the Experimental Drug Development Centre (EDDC) in Singapore, designed to amplify next-generation small molecule drug discoveries leveraging state-of-the-art automation techniques. Prof. Damian O'Connell from EDDC praised ChemLex's rapid evolution from a promising startup to a formidable player in the AI and automation domain, emphasizing the strengthened collaboration via a memorandum of understanding (MOU).

The partnership aims to facilitate quicker, lower-cost drug development, ultimately delivering safer and more effective therapies to patients at a faster rate. Together, they plan to meld EDDC's expertise with ChemLex's novel automation and AI methodology, thereby enhancing life-saving treatments not just in Singapore, but globally.

This strategic move coincides with the Singapore Economic Development Board's (EDB) mission to foster a robust and innovation-centric life sciences framework. Goh Wan Yee, Senior Vice President at EDB, emphasized how ChemLex's decision to establish its headquarters and laboratory in Singapore underscores the country's strengths in deep technological advancements and biomedical sciences, paving the way for breakthrough innovations in healthcare. "We are eager to support more visionary partners like ChemLex in propelling scientific discoveries that positively impact patient lives worldwide," she stated.

As the pharmaceutical landscape continues to evolve, ChemLex is positioned at the forefront of a significant industrial transition, ready to set new benchmarks in the realms of molecule design and production, ultimately reshaping supply chains and discovering novel economic value in healthcare solutions.