Google-backed start-up raises US$600 million to support AI drug discovery and design

London-based Isomorphic Labs, an AI-driven drug design and development start-up backed by Google’s AI research lab DeepMind, has raised US$600 million in its first external funding round by Thrive Capital. The funding will provide further power to its AI drug design engine.

Founded in 2021, Isomorphic Labs leverages DeepMind’s AlphaFold technology to accelerate drug discovery, using a machine learning system to predict the folding of proteins and complex protein structures. This allows scientists to discover target pathways for drug delivery. The company hopes to continue applying its AI drug design engine to delivery biomedical innovations and advance drug design programs across a variety of therapeutic areas and drug modalities. Funding was led by Thrive Capital, with follow-on capital from start-up investors GV and Alphabet Investor Relations.

In a press release, founder and CEO of Isomorphic Labs Sir Demis Hassabis stated, “We’re excited to bring together a top-tier investor group with deep AI and life sciences expertise as we aim to transform this industry through an interdisciplinary approach. 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.”

The use of next-generation AI models has already been implemented by Isomorphic Labs in partnership with pharmaceutical giants like Eli Lilly and Novartis. Recently, Isomorphic Labs’ breakthrough AlphaFold 3 model displayed the ability to accurately predict the structure and interactions of all of life’s molecules, allowing the company to establish drug discovery portfolios for programs focused in oncology and immunology. Novartis recently also expanded the scope of their collaboration with Isomorphic Labs after just over a year of partnership.

Founder and CEO of Thrive Capital Joshua Kushner commented, “At Thrive, we aim to invest in category-defining companies with singular conviction, and that has led us to Isomorphic Labs. We believe Isomorphic has earned a rare position to define a new age of drug discovery and design, and we are deeply inspired by their mission and the extraordinary progress they have made to date.”

GV Managing Partner Dr Krishna Yeshwant added, “AI and machine learning have long held the promise of transforming drug discovery, yet few companies over the past decade have unlocked their full potential. After witnessing the extraordinary pace of innovation at Isomorphic Labs, we believe their pioneering approach will redefine AI-powered drug discovery.”

Source:

Isomorphic Labs announces $600 million funding to further develop its next-generation AI drug design engine and advance therapeutic programs into the clinic [Accessed March 31, 2025] https://storage.googleapis.com/isomorphiclabs-website-public-artifacts/ISOMORPHIC_LABS_FUNDING_31-03-25.pdf