Insilico Medicine has successfully raised $110 million in Series E funding to advance its artificial intelligence-driven drug design platforms and expand into laboratory robotics. The financing round, spearheaded by Hong Kong-based Value Partners, includes contributions from existing investors as well as new backers, whose identities remain undisclosed. The investment will support the refinement of Insilico’s AI models and bolster pivotal clinical trials for its leading drug candidate targeting idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Breakthrough Drug Development and New AI Models
Earlier this month, Insilico’s small molecule inhibitor, previously known as ISM001-055, received a new generic drug name: rentosertib. The designation, granted by the United States Adopted Names Council, marks a key achievement for the investigational drug, whose structure and biological target were uncovered through generative AI technology.
The compound recently demonstrated positive results in a placebo-controlled Phase 2a trial conducted with 71 patients in China. The trial revealed a dose-dependent increase in lung capacity after three months, as well as improvements in quality-of-life scores, particularly regarding chronic cough. Insilico has now commenced Phase 1 trials for rentosertib in both China and the U.S.
New Advancements in Solid Tumor Treatment
In addition to rentosertib, Insilico has initiated Phase 1 clinical trials for another promising candidate—ISM6331. This wholly-owned molecule is being developed to treat mesothelioma and other solid tumors, marking a significant milestone in the company’s broad pipeline of AI-designed drugs.
Alex Zhavoronkov, the founder and CEO of Insilico, emphasized that the raised funds will further accelerate the development of the company’s drug pipeline and AI platform, reinforcing its position as a leader in this rapidly advancing field. He added, “We remain dedicated to extending productive longevity to people and are proud to be at the forefront of innovation in healthcare.”
AI-Powered Lab Robotics to Revolutionize Drug Discovery
As part of its strategic expansion, Insilico has also unveiled its first humanoid lab robot, named “Supervisor.” This bipedal machine is designed to learn and perform various tasks traditionally carried out by human scientists, such as pipetting, working with reagents, and operating laboratory equipment.
Zhavoronkov explained, “Most of today’s laboratory equipment was designed to be operated by humans, making it nearly impossible to have fully-autonomous robotic facilities. We aim to develop highly capable humanoid systems that will work alongside human scientists, allowing us to deploy them in pharma, carbon capture, and other sustainability-focused research areas.”
With this new push into robotics, Insilico aims to take automation to the next level. The company’s AI-driven approach to drug development has already yielded impressive results, with 10 assets gaining FDA approval to move into human clinical trials.
AI Models Leading the Charge in Drug Discovery
Last year, Insilico shared detailed timelines for 22 of its AI-designed drug candidates. These timelines illustrated the company’s ability to quickly advance from target identification to molecule design and preclinical preparation, with an average time of just 13 months per drug candidate. This pace has set a new benchmark for the industry and solidified Insilico’s reputation as a leader in AI-based drug discovery.
With the new funding, the company is poised to continue its rapid growth, driving forward its ambitious mission to revolutionize healthcare through artificial intelligence and cutting-edge lab automation.
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