Pharmacelera, a deep tech company applying Quantum Mechanics and Artificial Intelligence to drug discovery, announced it has closed a €6 million investment round to accelerate its expansion into the United States and further develop its proprietary platform.
The round was led by Heran Partners and joined by Clave Capital, Inveready and Bio&Tech Smart Capital. The financing is designed to support the establishment of a permanent team in the U.S. and expand the technical capabilities of Pharmacelera’s Quantum Mechanics and Artificial Intelligence engine, known as QaiM, across key growth areas.
Pharmacelera’s QaiM algorithms combine quantum-based simulations with artificial intelligence to explore the vast chemical “exaSpace,” described as a universe of trillions of potential molecules. The company says its platform can generate molecular candidates that are up to 10 times better and 75,000 times faster than traditional AI-led drug discovery approaches. The technology is applicable across small molecules and small peptides at every stage of drug discovery, from hit identification through hit-to-lead and lead optimization.
To date, Pharmacelera has participated in more than 100 projects, including several in GPCRs, and reports repeat business from customers in Europe and the U.S., including three large pharmaceutical companies and multiple biotech firms.
The funding follows a strategic alliance signed in 2023 between Pharmacelera and Silicon Valley-based General Inception, under which Pharmacelera became General Inception’s AI drug discovery strategic partner. Venkat Reddy, Chief Scientific Officer of General Inception, serves on Pharmacelera’s Board of Directors. Since the partnership began, Pharmacelera’s technology has contributed to strengthening the intellectual property of several General Inception portfolio companies.
Founded by AI engineers, industry drug hunters and academic researchers, Pharmacelera is based at the Parc Científic de Barcelona. The company states that its founders have co-authored more than 500 publications and hold over 50 patents related to technology and drug discovery.
KEY QUOTES
“The first wave of AI-powered drug discovery promised a lot but delivered comparatively little. Pharmacelera is changing the picture, by coupling AI with quantum-based simulations to leverage the exaSpace – the vast, undiscovered universe of trillions of molecules – to find highly novel drug candidates that are up to 10 times better, using a process that’s up to 75,000 times faster than traditional AI-led approaches. The backing of these leading investors, who have a deep understanding of drug discovery, is a strong validation of our revolutionary technology. The funding will enable us to establish a team in the U.S. – a natural next step to continue strengthening our relationships with large pharmaceutical and biotech companies on both the East and West coasts. It will also help us to greatly widen the capabilities of our QaiM engine.”
Enric Gibert, Chief Executive Officer, Pharmacelera
“By combining physics-based algorithms with machine learning, Pharmacelera enables the design of molecular candidates for novel targets and modes of action with a higher probability of success. We have a high conviction in this company, which was reinforced through direct discussions with its customers, including leading pharmaceutical companies, who have already experienced the significant impact of its technology.”
Raf Roelands, Partner, Heran Partners And Member Of The Board Of Directors, Pharmacelera
