What is Chai Discovery and how is it changing drug development?

Chai Discovery is an AI startup using advanced algorithms like Chai-2 to significantly speed up the identification and development of new medicines.

How much funding has Chai Discovery raised, and what is its valuation?

Chai Discovery has raised hundreds of millions of dollars, recently completing a Series B round of $130 million, valuing the company at $1.3 billion.

What is the significance of the partnership between Chai Discovery and Eli Lilly?

The partnership allows Eli Lilly to use Chai's AI software to develop new medicines, demonstrating AI's growing role in accelerating pharmaceutical innovation.

Home / Technology / AI Revolutionizes Drug Discovery: New Startup Secures Major Deal

AI Revolutionizes Drug Discovery: New Startup Secures Major Deal

17 Jan

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Summary

Chai Discovery secured $130 million in Series B funding, reaching a $1.3 billion valuation.
Eli Lilly will utilize Chai's AI software, Chai-2, to accelerate new medicine development.
The startup was co-founded by former OpenAI and Facebook researchers.

AI Revolutionizes Drug Discovery: New Startup Secures Major Deal

The field of drug discovery is undergoing a radical transformation, driven by AI and advanced data technologies. Chai Discovery, an AI startup established in 2024, exemplifies this shift. In just over 12 months, the company has garnered significant investment, culminating in a $130 million Series B funding round that valued it at $1.3 billion.

A pivotal development is Chai Discovery's recent partnership with pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly. Eli Lilly will leverage Chai's specialized AI algorithm, Chai-2, designed for developing antibodies, to expedite the creation of novel pharmaceuticals. This collaboration highlights the increasing reliance on AI for a more efficient and targeted approach to identifying and designing new drug molecules.

The co-founders of Chai Discovery bring a wealth of experience from leading tech institutions, including OpenAI and Facebook. Their vision is to create a "computer-aided design suite" for molecules, a goal that aligns with broader industry trends, such as Eli Lilly's separate $1 billion collaboration with NVIDIA to establish an AI drug discovery lab.