India Signs MoU with Peptris to Boost AI-Based Drug Discovery
What Happened
The Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science & Technology (DST) signed an MoU with Peptris Technologies Pvt Ltd, Bengaluru. The collaboration, called Project VIGOR (Moving AI-Discovered Molecules from Lab to Clinic), has a total cost of ₹172 crore, with ₹86 crore support provided via optionally convertible debt (OCD). The initiative will: Advance four AI-discovered drug candidates from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 to TRL 6. Cover preclinical development, validation, and clinical trial preparation. Target therapeutic areas including neuromuscular disorders, oncology, alopecia, neuropathy, and diabetes. Leverage Peptris’ AI-powered drug discovery platform alongside experimental validation and CRO partnerships. Officials emphasized that AI can transform pharmaceutical R&D, but sustained investment and rigorous evaluation are needed to convert computational discoveries into viable therapies.
Key Takeaways
This MoU marks a strategic step in India’s biotech innovation ecosystem, bridging the gap between AI-driven discovery and clinical development. It strengthens India’s position in AI-based healthcare innovation, while addressing unmet medical needs in critical therapeutic areas.