Bangalore-based AI drug discovery firm, Peptris Technologies Private Limited, has successfully raised $1 million in a pre-seed round of investment, with Speciale Invest leading the funding effort. This milestone investment is a significant boost for Peptris as it aims to advance AI-driven solutions in the drug development and discovery sector. The company, founded in 2019, is particularly focused on developing novel therapies for undruggable targets, with a special emphasis on oncology, inflammation, and rare diseases.

Peptris is at the forefront of transforming the conventional drug discovery process, notorious for its lengthy timelines and substantial costs. The company's state-of-the-art AI platform efficiently navigates extensive chemical libraries to identify promising drug candidates, representing a remarkable leap forward from traditional methods. The intersection of technology and pharmaceutical expertise gives Peptris a unique strength, enabling it to leverage recent advancements in AI technology for the development of its proprietary drug discovery platform.

Peptris is strategically positioning itself to capitalize on the maturation of AI technology by reducing preclinical development timelines and costs. The company's expansion into rare diseases, in addition to ongoing work in oncology and inflammation, aligns with its mission to leverage AI for the rapid and efficient discovery of therapeutic options. By focusing on rare diseases, Peptris addresses over 7000 conditions lacking approved treatments, contributing significantly to healthcare and biotechnology.

Founded by a team with a combination of deep pharmaceutical knowledge and advanced computational technology, Peptris is led by Narayanan Venkatasubramanian, Anand Budni, Amit Mahajan, and Shridhar Narayanan. The team's blend of expertise is crucial for developing innovative solutions in drug discovery. The funding secured from Speciale Invest is set to accelerate Peptris' AI-powered discovery programs and create a robust pipeline of potential drug candidates.

Narayanan Venkatasubramanian, CEO and co-founder of Peptris, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating that the investment would accelerate their AI-powered discovery programs. Speciale Invest's Managing Partner, Vishesh Rajaram, highlighted the alignment of Peptris' groundbreaking work with Speciale's investment strategy. The partnership aims to leverage India's pharmaceutical expertise and computational talents, making a significant global impact. Rajaram emphasized that the investment reflects Speciale Invest's mission to support deep tech startups revolutionizing their industries through scientific research and innovative technologies.