AI Proteins Secures $41.5M Series A Funding to Propel Novel Miniprotein Therapeutics

AI Proteins, a biotech firm revolutionizing the creation of new medications through artificial intelligence, has announced the completion of a $41.5 million Series A financing round. The funding was spearheaded by Mission BioCapital and Santé Ventures, with contributions from existing investors such as Lightchain Capital and Cobro Ventures.

This investment aims to expedite AI Proteins' goal of developing groundbreaking medicines derived from de novo miniproteins. The combination of generative AI, synthetic biology, and robotics is the backbone of the company’s discovery platform, facilitating the development of this innovative class of therapeutics. The modular miniproteins are designed from scratch, free from evolutionary constraints or human biases, allowing for precise control over their function, stability, solution behavior, and pharmacology. They can also be customized for intricate mechanisms of action, including targeted delivery and multispecific agents.

“Natural proteins evolved under selective pressures in the environment. They did not evolve to be modern medicine,” said Chris Bahl, PhD, Founder and CEO of AI Proteins. “Antibodies changed patient care but are limited by their natural origin. The next wave of biologic medicines will do things that are impossible for natural proteins because they’re made de novo. We start our design process with a target product profile and work backward to create the exact molecule needed. This level of control and precision wasn’t possible before. By industrializing the design-build-test cycle, we generate and optimize miniprotein candidates at speed and scale, and harvest massive datasets that we use to improve our models and accelerate our progress.”

AI Proteins has validated its platform's effectiveness and scalability through both internal initiatives and strategic partnerships. Notably, the company entered a research collaboration and option agreement with Bristol Myers Squibb in December 2024, which could be worth up to $400 million. Internally, AI Proteins has developed molecules targeting over 150 different sites, with several programs achieving in vivo proof-of-concept. In addition to human therapeutics, the company’s platform holds promise in diagnostics, agriculture, and reagent applications, potentially outperforming naturally sourced proteins.

“AI Proteins turned what has historically been artisanal science into a reproducible, scalable process capable of generating molecules across therapeutic domains,” remarked Steve Tregay, PhD, Managing General Partner at Mission BioCapital. “We see AI Proteins as a foundational company built to unlock an entirely new class of proteins.”

In contrast to traditional biotech platforms that may be deprioritized after delivering a successful product, AI Proteins is dedicated to fostering long-term innovation in de novo design. The company is enhancing its core platform through the implementation of a hub-and-spoke business model, which involves creating focused subsidiaries for individual programs. This strategy ensures ongoing advancements in discovery while allowing investors and partners to benefit from each new asset.

“AI Proteins has built a platform that’s not only scientifically differentiated, but operationally designed for scale,” stated Omar Khalil, Managing Director at Santé Ventures. “This is a platform that can power a generation of new therapies and advancements across diverse fields.”