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Top 10 Drug Discovery startups
Updated: April 24, 2024 |
Pharmaceutical startups are driving innovation in the pharmaceutical industry by utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and high-throughput screening techniques to accelerate the discovery and development of new drugs.
1
Country: Switzerland | Funding: $2.5B
Roivant’s mission is to reduce the time and cost of developing new medicines for patients and to share those savings with the healthcare system. It is a unique biopharmaceutical company with world-class drug development experts working across multiple clinical and functional areas.
Roivant’s mission is to reduce the time and cost of developing new medicines for patients and to share those savings with the healthcare system. It is a unique biopharmaceutical company with world-class drug development experts working across multiple clinical and functional areas.
2
Country: USA | Funding: $1.2B
Relay therapeutics is a developer of an allosteric drug-discovery platform intended to apply computational techniques to protein motion.
Relay therapeutics is a developer of an allosteric drug-discovery platform intended to apply computational techniques to protein motion.
3
Country: USA | Funding: $1.1B
Revolution Medicines is developing new therapies through an innovative approach that harnesses the complex chemicals of life by reconfiguring natural substances into best-in-class medicines.
Revolution Medicines is developing new therapies through an innovative approach that harnesses the complex chemicals of life by reconfiguring natural substances into best-in-class medicines.
4
Country: USA | Funding: $899.9M
Arrowhead Research is focused on developing, commercializing, and licensing a range of nanotechnology products and applications.
Arrowhead Research is focused on developing, commercializing, and licensing a range of nanotechnology products and applications.
5
Country: USA | Funding: $772M
Eikon is pioneering a new method of drug discovery based on tracking and measuring the movement of individual proteins in living cells.
Eikon is pioneering a new method of drug discovery based on tracking and measuring the movement of individual proteins in living cells.
6
Country: USA | Funding: $743M
Insitro is a machine-learning driven drug discovery and development company.
Insitro is a machine-learning driven drug discovery and development company.
7
Country: USA | Funding: $693M
Generate Biomedicines is a biotechnological company focusing on creating breakthrough medicines.
Generate Biomedicines is a biotechnological company focusing on creating breakthrough medicines.
8
Country: USA | Funding: $665.4M
Recursion Pharmaceuticals is a digital biology company, developing a drug discovery platform and pipeline with machine learning.
Recursion Pharmaceuticals is a digital biology company, developing a drug discovery platform and pipeline with machine learning.
9
Country: USA | Funding: $546.1M
Sangamo is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of engineered zinc finger DNA-binding proteins (ZFPs) as novel ZFP Therapeutics targeting various monogenic and infectious diseases with unmet medical needs.
Sangamo is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of engineered zinc finger DNA-binding proteins (ZFPs) as novel ZFP Therapeutics targeting various monogenic and infectious diseases with unmet medical needs.
10
Country: USA | Funding: $530.3M
FogPharma creates a new class of medicines that target human disease drivers currently considered undruggable.
FogPharma creates a new class of medicines that target human disease drivers currently considered undruggable.
11
Country: USA | Funding: $487M
Odyssey Therapeutics is a computational immunology company that develops novel therapeutics for patients with autoimmune diseases.
Odyssey Therapeutics is a computational immunology company that develops novel therapeutics for patients with autoimmune diseases.
12
Country: UK | Funding: $474.4M
Exscientia is applying AI and big data processing to accelerate drug discovery and development.
Exscientia is applying AI and big data processing to accelerate drug discovery and development.
13
Country: USA | Funding: $460M
Valo Health is a biotech company that is recreating the future of medicine. Valo is using computers to accelerate drug development while reducing the failure rate
Valo Health is a biotech company that is recreating the future of medicine. Valo is using computers to accelerate drug development while reducing the failure rate
14
Country: USA | Funding: $433.5M
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals develops therapeutic agents in various disease areas based on dicer substrate technology platform. The company offers RNA interference (RNAi)-targeted drugs and delivery systems for therapeutic areas of oncology and metabolic diseases. It also provides Dicer Substrate Technology, a second generation of gene silencing, which triggers RNAi and is used in therapeutic areas, including inflammation, immunology, and cardiovascular diseases.
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals develops therapeutic agents in various disease areas based on dicer substrate technology platform. The company offers RNA interference (RNAi)-targeted drugs and delivery systems for therapeutic areas of oncology and metabolic diseases. It also provides Dicer Substrate Technology, a second generation of gene silencing, which triggers RNAi and is used in therapeutic areas, including inflammation, immunology, and cardiovascular diseases.
15
Country: USA | Funding: $431.1M
IDEAYA is an oncology-focused biotechnology company committed to the discovery of breakthrough synthetic lethality medicines for genetically defined patient populations and immuno-oncology therapies targeting immuno-metabolism and innate immunity.
IDEAYA is an oncology-focused biotechnology company committed to the discovery of breakthrough synthetic lethality medicines for genetically defined patient populations and immuno-oncology therapies targeting immuno-metabolism and innate immunity.
16
Country: South Korea | Funding: 411M
Lego Chem Bioscience is a company created by people with dreams and enthusiasm for global new drug development
Lego Chem Bioscience is a company created by people with dreams and enthusiasm for global new drug development
17
Country: USA | Funding: $407.2M
Synergy is a gastrointestinal-focused biopharmaceutical company committed to science-based innovation, providing novel treatment options for patients and healthcare providers, rewarding opportunities for our employees, and creating exceptional value for our shareholders.
Synergy is a gastrointestinal-focused biopharmaceutical company committed to science-based innovation, providing novel treatment options for patients and healthcare providers, rewarding opportunities for our employees, and creating exceptional value for our shareholders.
18
Country: UK | Funding: $397.9M
Apollo Therapeutics provides funding & drug discovery expertise accelerating the best of British academic research to the clinic.
Apollo Therapeutics provides funding & drug discovery expertise accelerating the best of British academic research to the clinic.
19
Country: USA | Funding: $381M
Maze Therapeutics is a operator of a biotechnology firm intended to focused on translating genetic insights into new medicines.
Maze Therapeutics is a operator of a biotechnology firm intended to focused on translating genetic insights into new medicines.
20
Country: USA | Funding: $335.4M
Kite Pharma is a development-stage biotechnology company designing and developing immune-based therapies to treat cancer indications. Acquired by Gilead Sciences
Kite Pharma is a development-stage biotechnology company designing and developing immune-based therapies to treat cancer indications. Acquired by Gilead Sciences
21
Country: USA | Funding: $334.9M
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals specializes in the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative medicines.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals specializes in the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative medicines.
22
Country: USA | Funding: $310M
NextCure is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing next generation immuno-oncology-based drugs.
NextCure is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing next generation immuno-oncology-based drugs.
23
Country: USA | Funding: $309M
Senda Biosciences is a therapeutics platform company leveraging unprecedented insights into the molecular connections between humans.
Senda Biosciences is a therapeutics platform company leveraging unprecedented insights into the molecular connections between humans.
24
Country: France | Funding: $304.1M
OWKIN is the AI startup that uses machine learning to augment medical and biology research. Our proprietary platform, OWKIN Socrates, uses machine learning technology to integrate biomedical images, genomics and clinical data to discover biomarkers and mechanisms associated with diseases and treatment outcomes.
OWKIN is the AI startup that uses machine learning to augment medical and biology research. Our proprietary platform, OWKIN Socrates, uses machine learning technology to integrate biomedical images, genomics and clinical data to discover biomarkers and mechanisms associated with diseases and treatment outcomes.
25
Country: USA | Funding: $294M
Cellarity's platform digitizes the molecular information in cells to elucidate how they behave in health and disease.
Cellarity's platform digitizes the molecular information in cells to elucidate how they behave in health and disease.
26
Country: Canada | Funding: $292.6M
Milestone Pharmaceuticals is a drug development company developing small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Milestone Pharmaceuticals is a drug development company developing small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
27
Country: UK | Funding: $292M
A leading British artificial intelligence company located in the knowledge quarter of London with a focus in health and drug development
A leading British artificial intelligence company located in the knowledge quarter of London with a focus in health and drug development
28
Country: USA | Funding: $287M
Dewpoint Therapeutics is a biotech company which develop a drug platform that targets biomolecular condensates.
Dewpoint Therapeutics is a biotech company which develop a drug platform that targets biomolecular condensates.
29
Country: USA | Funding: $283.4M
Atea Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company which is engaged in the acquisition, discovery and development of novel antiviral therapeutics.
Atea Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company which is engaged in the acquisition, discovery and development of novel antiviral therapeutics.
30
Country: USA | Funding: $256.1M
Genesis Therapeutics unifies AI and biotech to accelerate the discovery of new medicines
Genesis Therapeutics unifies AI and biotech to accelerate the discovery of new medicines
31
Country: Belgium | Funding: $249.7M
ITeos Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that specializes in tumor immunology, cancer immunotherapy, and drug discovery.
ITeos Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that specializes in tumor immunology, cancer immunotherapy, and drug discovery.
32
Country: USA | Funding: $250M
Terremoto Biosciences is a biotechnology company leveraging the power of lysine-based covalency to develop optimized medicines.
Terremoto Biosciences is a biotechnology company leveraging the power of lysine-based covalency to develop optimized medicines.
33
Country: USA | Funding: $239.3M
Alto Neuroscience is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that creates precision medicines through its AI-driven biomarker platform.
Alto Neuroscience is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that creates precision medicines through its AI-driven biomarker platform.
34
Country: USA | Funding: $237.9M
Absci is the drug & target discovery company harnessing deep learning AI & synthetic biology to expand the therapeutic potential of proteins
Absci is the drug & target discovery company harnessing deep learning AI & synthetic biology to expand the therapeutic potential of proteins
35
Country: UK | Funding: $219.2M
Juvenescence AI is focused on developing drugs that were discovered by Artificial Intelligence Techniques.
Juvenescence AI is focused on developing drugs that were discovered by Artificial Intelligence Techniques.
36
Country: USA | Funding: $194.5M
Alector is a hypothesis-driven, neurology-focused startup that’s pioneering the discovery and development of first-in-class, immuno-modulatory therapies for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. We are combining state-of-the-art antibody technology and recent discoveries in neuro-immunology and human genetics to develop a broad platform of novel therapeutics that harness the immune system to fight dementia and neurodegeneration.
Alector is a hypothesis-driven, neurology-focused startup that’s pioneering the discovery and development of first-in-class, immuno-modulatory therapies for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. We are combining state-of-the-art antibody technology and recent discoveries in neuro-immunology and human genetics to develop a broad platform of novel therapeutics that harness the immune system to fight dementia and neurodegeneration.
37
Country: USA | Funding: $191.4M
Stealth BioTherapeutics is an innovative biopharmaceutical company.
Stealth BioTherapeutics is an innovative biopharmaceutical company.
38
Country: Singapore | Funding: $186M
ASLAN Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage oncology-focused biotechnology company developing novel therapeutics for global markets. We target diseases that are both highly prevalent in Asia and orphan indications in the United States and Europe.
ASLAN Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage oncology-focused biotechnology company developing novel therapeutics for global markets. We target diseases that are both highly prevalent in Asia and orphan indications in the United States and Europe.
39
Country: USA | Funding: $176.6M
Atomwise is the creator of AtomNet, the first Deep Learning technology for novel small molecule discovery, characterized by its unprecedented speed, accuracy, and diversity.
Atomwise is the creator of AtomNet, the first Deep Learning technology for novel small molecule discovery, characterized by its unprecedented speed, accuracy, and diversity.
40
Country: USA | Funding: $176.2M
METiS Therapeutics uses integrated drug discovery to develop medicines in a variety of illness areas.
METiS Therapeutics uses integrated drug discovery to develop medicines in a variety of illness areas.
41
Country: UK | Funding: £128M
OMass Therapeutics develops new medicines against highly validated but inadequately drugged targets using novel biochemistry techniques, native mass spectrometry and custom chemistry.
OMass Therapeutics develops new medicines against highly validated but inadequately drugged targets using novel biochemistry techniques, native mass spectrometry and custom chemistry.
42
Country: USA | Funding: $165M
Plexium is a drug development startup that leverages techniques from various physical-science and computational disciplines.
Plexium is a drug development startup that leverages techniques from various physical-science and computational disciplines.
43
Country: Denmark | Funding: €151M
NMD Pharma is a small molecule drug discovery company that develops novel treatments of neuromuscular disorders. Research by the founders working on the neuromuscular junction identified an approach that has not previously been exploited but shows great promise.
NMD Pharma is a small molecule drug discovery company that develops novel treatments of neuromuscular disorders. Research by the founders working on the neuromuscular junction identified an approach that has not previously been exploited but shows great promise.
44
Country: USA | Funding: $160M
Pieris Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that discovers and develops Anticalin-based drugs to target validated disease pathways in a unique and transformative way. Our pipeline includes immuno-oncology multi-specifics tailored for the tumor micro-environment, inhaled Anticalin proteins to treat respiratory diseases, such as uncontrolled asthma, and a half-life-optimized Anticalin protein to treat anemia.
Pieris Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that discovers and develops Anticalin-based drugs to target validated disease pathways in a unique and transformative way. Our pipeline includes immuno-oncology multi-specifics tailored for the tumor micro-environment, inhaled Anticalin proteins to treat respiratory diseases, such as uncontrolled asthma, and a half-life-optimized Anticalin protein to treat anemia.
45
Country: USA | Funding: $153M
Iambic Therapeutics is built on technologies for predicting protein-ligand structures, generating molecular designs and other drug discovery tasks. Using the technologies, Iambic claims it can accelerate drug discovery, pointing to the two years it took to take its lead project from program launch to IND to make its case.
Iambic Therapeutics is built on technologies for predicting protein-ligand structures, generating molecular designs and other drug discovery tasks. Using the technologies, Iambic claims it can accelerate drug discovery, pointing to the two years it took to take its lead project from program launch to IND to make its case.
46
Country: USA | Funding: $147.6M
Palleon Pharmaceuticals develops drugs that target sugar-sensing molecules on the surfaces of cells. It has integrated technologies and insights from world-renowned scientific leaders in glycoscience and human immunology to create the first Glycoimmune Checkpoint Inhibitors to treat cancer patients.
Palleon Pharmaceuticals develops drugs that target sugar-sensing molecules on the surfaces of cells. It has integrated technologies and insights from world-renowned scientific leaders in glycoscience and human immunology to create the first Glycoimmune Checkpoint Inhibitors to treat cancer patients.
47
Country: USA | Funding: $148M
Celsius Therapeutics develop life-changing medicines and discover critical biomarkers for patient care by better understanding the cellular ecosystem of diseases through Single Cell Genomics and Machine Learning.
Celsius Therapeutics develop life-changing medicines and discover critical biomarkers for patient care by better understanding the cellular ecosystem of diseases through Single Cell Genomics and Machine Learning.
48
Country: USA | Funding: $140M
Alzheon is committed to developing innovative medicines for patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease and other neurological and psychiatric disorders. Our Alzheon’s drug development platform which comprises proprietary chemistries, robust clinical efficacy and safety datasets in patients and genetically-defined subpopulations, and the ability to optimize molecules to have the desired therapeutic attributes.
Alzheon is committed to developing innovative medicines for patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease and other neurological and psychiatric disorders. Our Alzheon’s drug development platform which comprises proprietary chemistries, robust clinical efficacy and safety datasets in patients and genetically-defined subpopulations, and the ability to optimize molecules to have the desired therapeutic attributes.
49
Country: USA | Funding: $140M
BioXcel Therapeutics is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company that utilizes novel artificial intelligence, or AI, to identify the next wave of medicines across neuroscience and immuno-oncology.
BioXcel Therapeutics is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company that utilizes novel artificial intelligence, or AI, to identify the next wave of medicines across neuroscience and immuno-oncology.
50
Country: USA | Funding: $137.4M
Yumanity Therapeutics is transforming drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases caused by protein misfolding. Yumanity is working to identify and develop new, disease-modifying therapies that address several illnesses with critical unmet medical needs. The initial focus of the company is neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Yumanity Therapeutics is transforming drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases caused by protein misfolding. Yumanity is working to identify and develop new, disease-modifying therapies that address several illnesses with critical unmet medical needs. The initial focus of the company is neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).