A former scientist in DeepMind that helped develop Alphafold, a AI model that revolutionized the prediction of the protein structure, $ 50 million to launch the Latent Labs, a startup that focuses on the use of artificial intelligence to design new proteins.
Simon Cole, a physical expert in physics born in the generator, was founded in 2023 with the ambition to “achieve mathematical mastery on biology.” The company aims to partnership with biotechnology companies to accelerate the development of medicines by replacing traditional experimental methods with the AI's protein design.
The financing round, which was completed in December, led Radical Vetshers, an investment fund that focuses on artificial intelligence, along with Sofinnova Partners, known for its investments in the field of life. Among the prominent supporters: Jeff Dean-Emrust scientist in Google, Aidan Gomez-Co-Coat Ai Cohere and Mati Staniszewski-co-founder of Ai Audio Startup ElevenLabs.
With 10 million dollars in the emerging capital, Latent Labs now got a total of $ 50 million to expand its operations.
Cole, 34, previously worked in DeepMind, playing a major role in the second repetition of Alphafold – technology that was recognized with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. While Alphafold scientists have been able to set the current protein structures, Kohl believes that the next step is to design new proteins from zero point using the AI Tolly.
“Alphafold allows you to take a look at the existing natural proteins catalog, but it does not allow you to form new,” Cole said.
Its goal with Latent Labs is to develop Amnesty International models that eliminate the need for traditional laboratory techniques, making the discovery of drugs faster and more accurate.
Latent Labs collects a team of the best researchers of artificial intelligence and biotechnology throughout London and San Francisco, including four former Dibinds. The company is actively employing more specialists with its expansion.
By applying obstetric intelligence to protein and molecular design, Kohl believes that laboratory laboratories can reduce cases of failure in clinical trials, a major challenge in the pharmaceutical industry.
“There are still a lot of failures in clinical trials, and in some respects, you can track the problem again to how the medicine was originally discovered,” I explained.
“If you can design proteins and molecules a higher degree of control and accuracy, the idea is that we are in the future, we will see fewer failures.”
Kohl admits concerns about the ethical effects of proteins resulting from artificial intelligence, describing it as an “important question” that requires a broader discussion. However, he stressed that the current artificial intelligence technology has not yet developed enough to overcome what human experts can achieve in a well -equipped laboratory.
When AI outperforms traditional methods in Labs Labs, Kohl admitted that it is difficult to predict.
“Our northern star is that our artificial intelligence systems will eventually be so advanced that it no longer requires checking the health of the experimental laboratory,” he said. “At this point, you will have a very strong technique on your hands.”
Latent Labs is in a competitive field but is still emerging as multiple startups explore how AI can reshape the drug development. Cole compared the scene to the space race.
He said: “It seems that there are a large number of missiles that are now launched, and they may all reach orbit.”
Although Latent Labs did not reveal its current projects or customers, the rapid financing for the start of operation and prominent support indicates that it is aware of being a major player in the future of drug detection driven by artificial intelligence and protein engineering.
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