Peptris, an AI drug discovery startup, raises $1 million in the pre-seed round, led by Speciale Invest

Peptris Technologies Private Limited, an AI drug discovery company based in Bangalore, has announced $1M in pre-seed round investment led by Speciale Invest. This funding will help Peptris advance AI-driven solutions in the drug development/discovery sector, with a special focus on developing novel therapies for undruggable targets, particularly in oncology, inflammation, and rare diseases.

Peptris is revolutionising drug discovery with its state-of-the-art AI platform, which narrows down extensive chemical libraries to pinpoint promising drug candidates. This technology efficiently transforms the traditionally lengthy and costly drug discovery process, which often takes over a decade and incurs substantial costs, making essential medications financially out of reach for many.

Peptris' strength lies in its strategic position at the crossroads of technology and pharmaceutical expertise. The company intends to leverage and capitalize on the recent maturation of AI technology in developing its proprietary drug discovery platform. Peptris is capitalizing on this opportunity by developing a proprietary AI platform that reduces preclinical development timelines and costs multifold.

Peptris is broadening its research scope to include rare diseases, in addition to its ongoing work in oncology and inflammation. Peptris aims to leverage AI for the rapid and efficient discovery of novel therapeutic options. The integration of AI in drug discovery, particularly in the context of rare diseases, addresses over 7000 known conditions lacking approved treatments.

Founded in 2019, Peptris is led by a founding team that combines deep pharmaceutical knowledge with advanced computational technology. The team has been incubated at C-CAMP in Bangalore and has received grant support from various government agencies in the past.

“We are thrilled to announce that we have secured investment from Speciale Invest. We are particularly impressed by their breadth of investment in the deep tech sector, which reflects a profound understanding and commitment to driving technological advancements. This partnership marks a significant milestone in our journey. The current funding will help us accelerate our AI-powered discovery programs and create a robust pipeline of potential drug candidates,” said Narayanan Venkatasubramanian, CEO and co-founder of Peptris.

“The backing from Speciale Invest is set to catalyze Peptris' journey, supporting the expansion of the drug pipeline and further refinement of the platform. This funding isn't just an investment in technology; it's an investment in the future of healthcare in India, bringing hope of more accessible and affordable treatments to millions,” Venkat further added.

“We are excited to join Peptris’ journey in transforming the future of pharmaceutical and health tech in India. Peptris' groundbreaking work in AI-driven drug discovery aligns perfectly with Speciale's investment strategy. We hope this partnership will help leverage India's pharmaceutical expertise and computational talents, making a significant impact globally. This investment aligns with Speciale Invest's mission to support deep tech startups set to revolutionize their industries through scientific research and innovative technologies,” said Vishesh Rajaram, Managing Partner at Speciale Invest.

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