Isomorphic Labs, the DeepMind spinoff founded by Demis Hassabis, is pursuing faster drug discovery by relying on artificial intelligence models developed and run internally rather than slowing to follow calls for pacing from other AI leaders.
Chris Butler, who leads drug discovery at Isomorphic Labs, told the Semafor Future of Health Forum on Tuesday that the company can continue to advance “regardless of what decisions are made elsewhere.” He emphasized that “all of our AI models are locked down and locked down in‑house,” and framed the company’s focus as how to use those internally built models to accelerate the drug discovery process.
Isomorphic was founded in 2021 and in May raised $2.1 billion in its latest funding round led by Thrive Capital; the company’s valuation at that round was not disclosed. Butler said the capital will be put toward building out the company’s pipeline and evolving its drug‑design capabilities. He also noted that Isomorphic’s drug discovery team is growing, with particular interest in oncology and immunology.
Butler told the forum that the company is “on track” and moving “smoothly” through preclinical development. Isomorphic is collaborating with several major pharmaceutical companies, including Novartis, Eli Lilly, and Johnson & Johnson. He declined to provide additional details on precise timelines for entering clinical trials.
The company is also engaging with regulators to clarify how AI approaches should be used to accelerate development. Butler said the regulatory landscape is shifting toward greater acceptance of AI and of bringing more data to guide development programs. He described regulatory interaction as a partnership: as Isomorphic advances molecules, it needs to work with agencies to determine what data and evidence are required, what should be expanded, and what will help with regulatory review and eventual submission.
With regulators interested in shortening the time needed for drug discovery, Isomorphic is betting that its in‑house AI models and collaborations with industry and regulators can enable a faster transition from discovery to early‑stage clinical trials. These elements form the core of the company’s strategy to move promising molecules toward the clinic.
