Peptris, a Bengaluru-based AI-powered drug discovery company, has raised ₹70 crore in a Series A funding round co-led by IAN Alpha Fund, the 2nd in the series of IAN Group’s VC funds, along with Speciale Invest.
The round also saw participation from Tenacity Ventures, BYT Ventures, and other investors.
The fresh funds raised will be used to advance its existing programs toward clinical readiness and to expand its pipeline significantly over the next 24 months. The company also plans to initiate several new NCE programs, alongside multiple drug repurposing and rescue programs (shelved clinical stage drugs of other companies). The company will also expand teams across biology, chemistry, data science, and AI, while building dedicated business development capabilities in the US and Europe to deepen partnerships with global pharmaceutical and biotech companies.
Founded in 2019 by Narayanan Venkatasubramanian (CEO), Shridhar Narayanan (CSO), Anand Budni (CTO), and Amit Mahajan (Chief Data Scientist), Peptris has built an AI-led discovery engine that generates novel molecules and predicts varied parameters that are critical to reduce failures in drug development.
Peptris’ differentiator is its proprietary AI models, which not only generate novel molecules but also help predict critical drug development parameters early. This has already resulted in the discovery of Novel Chemical Entities (NCEs) as well as drug repurposing and rescue opportunities, with multiple programs now advancing towards clinical development.
Peptris follows a B2B engagement model, working closely with pharma, biotech, and select FMCG partners to license assets and co-develop programs.
Peptris focuses on therapeutic areas including rare diseases, inflammation, oncology, and women’s health to deliver a durable impact for patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems globally.
Narayanan Venkatasubramanian, Co-founder & CEO, Peptris, said, “Our mission has been to harness AI to address meaningful healthcare challenges that enhance quality of life, not merely extend lifespan. The true reward lies in seeing this work translate into hope for patients, relief for caregivers, and a more accessible future for those with limited or unaffordable treatment options. Peptris is especially encouraged to have IAN Alpha Fund share this conviction as an early backer, reinforcing our commitment to building impactful, patient-centered innovation.”
Rajnish Kapur, Managing Partner, IAN Alpha Fund, said, “Drug discovery is becoming economically unsustainable, with expenses nearly doubling every nine years and pre-clinical development swallowing disproportionate time and capital. The use of AI for molecule discovery, which re-engineers the economics of early drug discovery by enabling faster decisions, reducing costs, and significantly accelerating go-to-market timelines, really excited us. This is driven by a team with scientific depth and computational rigor. This innovation could absolutely help change the drug discovery ecosystem not only in India but globally. At its core, this investment is about serving humanity better.”
