Alphabet-Backed Isomorphic Labs Nears Human Trials AI-Designed Drugs

Isomorphic Labs, an Alphabet subsidiary spun out of Google DeepMind, is preparing to initiate its first human clinical trials for AI-designed oncology drugs, marking a significant milestone in AI-driven pharmaceutical development. The company, which developed the AlphaFold AI system capable of predicting protein structures and molecular interactions with high accuracy, aims to transform the traditionally slow and costly drug discovery process by leveraging AI to increase speed, reduce costs, and improve success rates. Isomorphic has secured major partnerships with pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Novartis, as well as raising $600 million in funding led by Thrive Capital to advance its drug pipeline and AI drug design engine. According to Colin Murdoch, Isomorphic's president, the company is currently staffing up and finalizing preparations to dose patients in clinical trials, focusing initially on cancer treatments but with ambitions to expand to other diseases. The evolution of AlphaFold from protein structure prediction to simulating interactions between proteins, DNA, and drug molecules has been critical in enabling more precise drug design. Isomorphic Labs is part of a broader AI drug discovery trend that includes companies like Novo Nordisk, Recursion Pharmaceuticals, and Insilico Medicine, all racing toward clinical trials and AI-based drug innovation.