Isomorphic Labs Secures $600M to Accelerate AI-Powered Drug Discovery

Isomorphic Labs raised $600 million in its first external funding round
Funding led by Thrive Capital, with participation from GV and Alphabet
Proceeds will accelerate AI drug design engine development and advance clinical programs
Company plans to expand into antibodies and the US market
Existing partnerships with Eli Lilly and Novartis for small molecule therapeutics

Isomorphic Labs, the AI-powered drug discovery company spun out of Google DeepMind, has secured a massive $600 million in its first external funding round1 2. Founded by AI pioneer and Nobel laureate Sir Demis Hassabis, the company aims to revolutionize drug discovery using advanced artificial intelligence techniques2.

Funding Details and Investors

The funding round was led by Thrive Capital, with participation from GV (formerly Google Ventures) and follow-on capital from existing investor Alphabet1 2. This substantial investment underscores the growing confidence in AI's potential to transform pharmaceutical research, an industry traditionally plagued by high costs and lengthy development timelines2.

Accelerating AI Drug Discovery

Hassabis expressed excitement about the funding, stating, "This funding will further turbocharge the development of our next-generation AI drug design engine, help us advance our own programs into clinical development, and is a significant step forward towards our mission of one day solving all disease with the help of AI"1 5.

The company plans to use the windfall to:

Accelerate research and development efforts
Advance its next-generation AI drug design engine
Expand its team, adding top-tier talent for the next growth phase5

Expanding into Antibodies and the US Market

While Isomorphic Labs has primarily focused on small molecule therapeutics, the new funding will allow the company to expand its capabilities into antibody discovery and development11. This move broadens the company's potential impact across various therapeutic modalities.

Additionally, Isomorphic Labs plans to establish a presence in the United States, tapping into the country's vast talent pool and research ecosystem11.

Existing Partnerships and Programs

Isomorphic Labs has already made significant strides in the pharmaceutical industry through strategic partnerships:

Eli Lilly:
A collaboration worth up to $1.7 billion to develop "multiple" small molecule targets5

Novartis:
An initial agreement worth up to $1.2 billion to develop three targets, recently expanded to include three additional programs2 5

The company is advancing drug design programs across multiple therapeutic areas, with a primary focus on oncology and immunology for its internal programs5.

AI Technology and Capabilities

At the core of Isomorphic Labs' approach is its AI drug design engine, which includes:

AlphaFold 3:
Developed in partnership with Google DeepMind, this advanced model can predict the structures and interactions of proteins, DNA, RNA, and ligands2
Multiple AI models forming a unified drug design engine, working across various therapeutic areas and drug modalities2

With this substantial funding and ambitious plans for expansion, Isomorphic Labs is poised to make significant contributions to the field of AI-powered drug discovery, potentially revolutionizing the way new treatments are developed for a wide range of diseases.

Sources:

1. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/ai-biotech-isomorphic-labs-hauls-600m-power-next-gen-drug-design-model

2. https://www.maginative.com/article/isomorphic-labs-secures-600m-to-accelerate-ai-powered-drug-discovery/

5. https://www.genengnews.com/topics/artificial-intelligence/deepmind-spinout-isomorphic-labs-raises-600m-toward-ai-drug-design/

11. https://community.hlth.com/insights/the-talk-of-the-town/isomorphic-labs-raises-600m-for-ai-drug-design-2025-04-01