InVirtuoLabs, a startup based in Lugano, Switzerland, has successfully raised €2.85 million in its inaugural funding round to enhance drug development through artificial intelligence.

Founded by Gianvito Grasso and Sertac Yeltekin, InVirtuoLabs combines advanced machine learning with physics-based simulations to create novel drugs.

The company's proprietary platform, known as the Next Generation Virtual Lab, utilizes AI and molecular modeling to efficiently identify and optimize drug candidates.

Focusing on a receptor associated with common metabolic diseases, InVirtuoLabs aims to expedite the discovery of new treatments.

The startup's initial major achievement includes developing a new protocol for creating drugs that target nuclear receptors linked to over 100 diseases, including metabolic disorders and certain cancers.

InVirtuoLabs' system can generate and test billions of new molecules, significantly increasing success rates while reducing the average costs of drug development, which typically amount to €2.4 billion and take around 12 years.

The funding will be utilized to significantly decrease the time and costs associated with drug development, ultimately aiming to make treatments more accessible.

The company's vision is to democratize access to innovative therapies, making drug discovery faster, more precise, and economically sustainable.

InVirtuoLabs plans to expand rapidly over the next 18 months by strengthening its team, forming strategic collaborations, and enhancing its platform capabilities.

Demet Olesen, CCO of InVirtuoLabs, emphasizes the importance of engaging with biotech and pharmaceutical companies to refine technology and meet industry needs.

Gianvito Grasso, CEO of InVirtuoLabs, highlights that the integration of AI, chemistry, and molecular biophysics is transforming the landscape of drug development.