Research area
AI drug discovery startups
Protein design, molecular structure and AI-first drug discovery. We track 6 labs in this area, which have raised $1.79B in disclosed rounds between them; the most valuable is Chai Discovery, at $3.8B.
6labs
$1.79Bdisclosed raised
$0Mreported valuations
| Lab | Topic | Location | Founders from | Founded | Last round | Valuation | Raised | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chai DiscoveryMolecular structure prediction and antibody design (Chai-1, Chai-2), used by Pfizer, Lilly…site | Biology & drug discovery | San Francisco, US | ex-OpenAI, ex-Stripe, ex-Aqemia, ex-UChicago | 2024 | · | $3.8Best. | · | API |
| Merge LabsBrain-computer interfaces co-founded by Sam Altman; backed by OpenAI.site | Biology & drug discovery | San Francisco, US | ex-OpenAI, ex-Tools for Humanity, ex-Caltech | 2025 | · | $850Mest. | · | Research only |
| EvolutionaryScaleESM3 protein language models; the team later joined Biohub.site | Biology & drug discovery | New York, US | ex-Meta | 2023 | Seed $142MJun 25, 2024 · Nat Friedman, Daniel Gross, Lux Capital | · | $142M | Merged |
| Isomorphic LabsDrug discovery beyond AlphaFold; an Alphabet subsidiary with pharma partnerships.site · in | Biology & drug discovery | London, UK | ex-Google DeepMind | 2021 | Series A $600MMar 31, 2025 · Thrive Capital | · | $600M | Partnerships |
| Latent LabsProtein and antibody design with a wet lab, from an AlphaFold co-developer.site | Biology & drug discovery | London, UK | ex-Google DeepMind | 2023 | Series A $50MFeb 11, 2025 · Radical Ventures, Sofinnova Partners | · | $50M | API |
| Xaira TherapeuticsAI-first drug discovery launched with $1B.site · in | Biology & drug discovery | South San Francisco, US | ex-Stanford, ex-UW, ex-Google DeepMind, ex-Meta | 2024 | Series A $1BApr 23, 2024 · ARCH Venture Partners, Foresite Capital | · | $1B | Research only |
News
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Oct 9, 2026
+5 more coverage
- Fierce Biotech GSK drinks in Chai Discovery’s AI models after wet-lab validation
- Contract Pharma Chai Discovery, GSK Announce Collaboration Following Wet-Lab Evaluation
- RTTNews Chai Discovery Collaborates With GSK For AI Integration
- Endpoints News Exclusive: AI startup Chai lands GSK deal, its sixth pharma partner in nine months
- FirstWord PHARMA Chai adds GSK to its roster of pharma deals after positive lab tests
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Oct 8, 2026
+3 more coverage
- SiliconANGLE Alphabet spinoff Isomorphic Labs reportedly raising funding at up to $50B valuation
- Bloomberg.com Watch Google DeepMind's AI Drug Spinoff, Isomorphic Labs, Seeks Funding at Valuation of $…
- Bloomberg.com Watch Isomorphic Labs' $40B Valuation; WHO Urges Russia Plague Transparency
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Oct 6, 2026
+2 more coverage
- Startup Fortune Bridge Neurotech Emerges To Challenge Sam Altman's Merge Labs In Brain Interfaces
- Dealroom Bridge Neurotech launches with $13.5M to challenge Altman-backed Merge Labs
- Oct 2, 2026
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Sep 9, 2026
+1 more coverage
- Revelio Labs Xaira Therapeutics Number of Employees 2026 | Employee Count & Headcount Data
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Sep 9, 2026
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Sep 9, 2026
+2 more coverage
- Yahoo Finance Merge Labs and Butterfly Network Partner to Advance Ultrasound-Based Brain-Computer Inter…
- Yahoo Finance Sam Altman-Backed Merge Labs Picked Butterfly’s Chips for Brain Interfaces. Is This the B…
- Jul 21, 2026
- Jul 15, 2026
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Jul 14, 2026
+1 more coverage
- Business Wire Chai Discovery Announces $400M Series C to Advance AI-Driven Molecular Design
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Jul 6, 2026
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May 1, 2026