Isomorphic Labs raises $600M to push AI-designed drugs into clinic
Isomorphic Labs, an AI-focused drug design and development company spun out from Google DeepMind, has raised $600 million in its first external funding round13. The round was led by Thrive Capital, with participation from GV (formerly Google Ventures) and follow-on investment from existing backer Alphabet36.
Key details:
- Founded in 2021 by DeepMind co-founder Sir Demis Hassabis
- Focuses on using AI to reimagine and accelerate drug discovery3
- Developed AlphaFold 3 with Google DeepMind, released in May 20241
- Has partnerships with pharmaceutical companies Eli Lilly and Novartis13
- Internal programs primarily focused on oncology and immunology3
The funding will be used to:
- Accelerate development of Isomorphic's next-generation AI drug design engine36
- Advance the company's own drug programs into clinical development3
- Expand its team of specialists13
Isomorphic Labs aims to leverage AI to explore new chemical possibilities and tackle difficult targets more quickly and accurately6. The substantial investment underscores growing confidence in AI's potential to transform pharmaceutical research, an industry traditionally plagued by high costs and lengthy development timelines1.
While AI-designed drugs are still in early stages, some studies suggest they may have higher success rates in early clinical trials compared to industry averages5. However, more data is needed to confirm this trend.
Sources:
1. https://www.maginative.com/article/isomorphic-labs-secures-600m-to-accelerate-ai-powered-drug-discovery/
3. https://www.biopharmatrend.com/post/1184-company-behind-alphafold-raises-600m-to-advance-ai-drug-design-and-internal-pipeline/
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38692505/
6. https://siliconcanals.com/isomorphic-labs-secures-e555-4m/