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This startup is using AI to give failed drugs a second chance. Check out the pitch deck it used to attract investors.

Mar 21, 2025 - businessinsider.com
Ignota Labs, a Cambridge, UK-based startup, leverages AI to address toxicity issues in failed drugs, giving them another chance at clinical trials. By acquiring abandoned drug candidates and using AI to diagnose and modify them, Ignota Labs aims to reduce the traditional drug discovery timeline and cost significantly. CEO Sam Windsor highlights that their approach can achieve results in under two years and for less than $1 million, compared to the typical $10 million and seven to eight years. This innovative approach attracted $6.9 million in seed funding from investors including Montage Ventures, AIX Ventures, Modi Ventures, Blue Wire Capital, and Gaingels.

The startup focuses on drugs that were close to success but were halted due to safety concerns, an area Windsor believes is often overlooked by other AI drug discovery companies. Ignota Labs' proprietary AI platform identifies toxicity causes and suggests chemical modifications. Despite a challenging fundraising environment, the company plans to use the new funds to acquire more distressed assets and advance its first drug, a PDE9A inhibitor for Alzheimer's, into early trials. Windsor notes that safety science is often seen as a hurdle rather than an exciting goal, but Ignota Labs aims to change that perception.

Key takeaways:

  • Ignota Labs uses AI to diagnose and modify failed drugs for another chance at clinical trials, aiming to reduce the cost and time of traditional drug discovery.
  • The startup recently raised $6.9 million in a seed round co-led by Montage Ventures and AIX Ventures, with additional investment from Modi Ventures, Blue Wire Capital, and Gaingels.
  • Ignota Labs focuses on drugs that were close to success but failed due to safety issues, using its AI platform to identify toxicity causes and recommend chemical adjustments.
  • The company plans to use the funding to acquire more distressed assets and advance its first drug, a PDE9A inhibitor for treating Alzheimer's, into early trials.
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