Isomorphic Labs – to Begin Human Trials for AI-Designed Drugs
Google- Backed Alphabet’s Isomorphic Labs, preparing to launch its first human clinical trials of drugs created using artificial intelligence.
This marks a huge step forward in how medicines are discovered and tested.
What Isomorphic Labs Is Doing
- The company is using AI tools based on DeepMind’s AlphaFold, a powerful system that can predict how proteins fold and interact.
- With this technology, Isomorphic Labs can design potential drug molecules much faster than traditional methods.
- These drugs are mainly being developed to treat cancer and immune system disorders.
- Colin Murdoch, president of Isomorphic Labs, confirmed that they’re “getting very close” to starting trials. The company expects its first AI-designed drug to enter human testing by the end of 2025.
How It Works
- Instead of spending years in labs with trial-and-error testing, Isomorphic Labs uses AI models to:
- Predict how proteins behave in the body
- Identify drug molecules that might work well
- Simulate how those molecules interact with the human body
- This helps researchers zero in on promising treatments much faster.
Investment
In April 2025, the company raised $600 million from investors like Thrive Capital, GV (Google Ventures), and Alphabet itself.
They’ve also signed multi-year research deals with big pharmaceutical companies such as Eli Lilly and Novartis.
These partnerships allow them to co-develop drugs using their AI platform.
What’s Coming Next
- The first drugs to enter human trials will be for cancer and immunological diseases.
- The trials will take place in partnership with global pharma companies and may start by late 2025.
- If successful, this would be one of the first real-world proofs that AI can create effective human medicines.
News Gist
Google-backed Isomorphic Labs is set to begin human trials for its AI-designed cancer and immune disorder drugs by late 2025.
Using DeepMind’s AlphaFold, the company aims to revolutionize drug discovery with faster, cheaper, and more targeted treatments.
