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Aqemia , aFrench startupthat ’s mesh “ quantum - inspire physics ” with motorcar take to obtain novel drugs , has raised $ 38 million in a wise round of backing led bySan Francisco - based VC house Cathay Innovation .
This is Aqemia ’s second fundraise of the yr — itannounceda € 30 million ( $ 31.5 million ) lift back in January — and it takes the company ’s total financing raise past the $ 100 million brand .
constitute in Paris by Maximilien Levesque and Emmanuelle Rolland - Martiano ( pictured above ) in 2019 , Aqemia is one of unnumerable startupsapplying AI to drug discovery . In 2024 alone , we ’ve check the likes ofHealx raise $ 47 millionto undertake rare diseases ; Sam Altman - back Formation Bioraise $ 372 million ; and Xairaemerge from stealth with a whopping $ 1 billionin funding .
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis and Director John Jumper , meanwhile , share one - half of the Nobel Prizein chemistry for theirwork on Alphafold , an AI system that accurately predict protein complex body part — vital for drug discovery .
Aqemia , for its part , says it ’s using physics and statistical mechanics algorithms to trail a generative AI organization , which then helps design potential drug candidates for “ decisive diseases . ” The initial focus is on oncology ( cancer ) and immuno - oncology ( using the body ’s immune system to fight cancer ) .
The company say this advance to training AI belie the need for experimental data , which is costly and time - exhaust , and rather utilise algorithms to essentially generate synthetic data to predict the dimension of potential drug speck and how they might interact with the target .
London’s calling
It ’s clear thatAI - enable drug discoveryis a raging space right now , and Aqemia itself has already been making headway in industriousness . Last December , the startupsigneda multi - yr agreement with Gallic pharmaceutic behemoth Sanofi , a mountain that could be deserving up to $ 140 million calculate on the outcome of certain R&D milestones .
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With a fresh $ 38 million in the bank , the company is now pitch up to bolster its recruitment efforts . That let in a newfangled office staff in London that ’s set to spread in former 2025 — a move designed to give Aqemia “ accession to the UK ’s fat talent pool , ” consort to apress release . Having a globular VC house like Cathay Innovation on control panel could also open up the door to new marketplace .
“ Less than a yr after our last rhythm , this successful fundraising and the opening of our new London office score pregnant strides toward our ambition to accelerate the uncovering of young medicament on a global scale of measurement , ” Levesque articulate in a statement . “ Partnering with Cathay Innovation brings outside expertness , particularly in the U.S. and Asia , reinforce our visual modality and missionary post . ”
away from lead backer Cathay Innovation , Aqemia ’s latest circular saw participation from exist investors Wendel , Bpifrance Large Venture , Eurazeo , and Elaia .
