Peptris Raises Rs 70 Crore for Drug Discovery Initiatives

Drug discovery company Peptris has successfully secured Rs 70 crore ($7.7 million) in a Series A funding round co-led by IAN Alpha Fund and Speciale Invest, with contributions from Tenacity Ventures, BYT Ventures, and various other investors. This new funding will be utilised to progress its current programs towards clinical readiness, expand its pipeline over the next 24 months, and bolster teams across biology, chemistry, data science, and AI, as stated by Peptris in a recent press release.

About Peptris and Its Founders

Established in 2019 by Narayanan Venkatasubramanian, Shridhar Narayanan, Anand Budni, and Amit Mahajan, Peptris has developed AI models that can generate innovative molecules and predict various parameters essential for minimising failures in drug development. This methodology has facilitated the identification of Novel Chemical Entities (NCEs), along with opportunities for drug repurposing and rescue.

Addressing Critical Healthcare Challenges

Based in Bengaluru, the company addresses ongoing challenges in healthcare, acknowledging that despite advancements in science, drug discovery continues to be a slow, costly, and failure-prone process, leaving many medical needs unmet. This issue is particularly pronounced during the pre-clinical phase, where time, funds, and scientific uncertainties can undermine promising initiatives long before they reach clinical trials.

Peptris’ Innovative Platform

Peptris asserts that its platform not only generates novel molecules but also aids in predicting vital drug development parameters at early stages. This capability fosters quicker and more informed decision-making, resulting in the identification of Novel Chemical Entities (NCEs) and opportunities for drug repurposing and rescue, with numerous programs already advancing towards clinical development.

Future Plans and Therapeutic Areas

The company intends to commence several new NCE programs while also initiating various drug repurposing and rescue initiatives involving shelved clinical-stage drugs from other firms. Peptris adopts a B2B engagement model, collaborating closely with pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and select FMCG partners to license assets and co-develop programs. The startup concentrates on therapeutic fields such as rare diseases, inflammation, oncology, and women’s health, aiming to make a lasting impact for patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems around the world.