Bioptimus Raises $41M to Build AI for Biology | BioTech News

French Startup Secures $41 Million for Biology-Focused AI Model

A newly established artificial intelligence company originating from France has successfully obtained $41 million in funding. This investment is dedicated to the creation of a foundational AI model specifically tailored for applications within the field of biology.

Mimicking ChatGPT for Biological Applications

Similar to how OpenAI’s ChatGPT has achieved widespread recognition as a highly advanced generative AI capable of engaging in natural language conversations, Bioptimus is pursuing a comparable approach. However, their model is being trained with a focused emphasis on biological applications.

This specialized training presents distinct hurdles, primarily due to the sensitive nature and limited public accessibility of the necessary clinical data.

Understanding Biology Through Data Simulation

Jean-Philippe Vert, co-founder and CEO of Bioptimus, explains that the company’s objective is to deepen the comprehension of biological processes. They aim to achieve this by learning from raw data, encompassing everything from individual molecules to complete organisms.

This enhanced understanding will empower scientists and researchers to simulate biological systems. The goal is to accurately predict disease outcomes and facilitate the development of improved therapeutic interventions.

A Biological Equivalent of GPT

Vert highlights the parallels between Bioptimus’ technology and the core functionality of ChatGPT’s model. He states, “Essentially, it’s like the GPT of biology — but instead of generating text, we’re simulating biology.”

The company intends to leverage AI to create realistic simulations of biological processes, offering a powerful new tool for scientific discovery and medical advancement.

A Flourishing AI Ecosystem in France

France has become a significant center for AI startups, particularly those specializing in generative AI. Companies throughout the nation have secured the majority of investment funding over the past year.

Notable large funding rounds include a $640 million investment in Mistral AI, $220 million for H, and $235 million secured by Hugging Face – all occurring within the last 18 months.

Bioptimus: Rapid Growth and Strong Foundations

Founded only last year, Bioptimus quickly secured a $35 million seed round. The company’s subsequent raising of $76 million in under a year demonstrates both the current enthusiasm surrounding AI and the impressive credentials of its six co-founders.

For example, the Chief Technology Officer, Rodolphe Jenatton, previously held a senior research scientist position at both Amazon and Google. Vert, simultaneously co-founder and CEO of Bioptimus, also serves as Chief R&D Officer at Owkin, a French unicorn and another AI-driven biotech company backed by investors like GV.

Leveraging Owkin’s Data Resources

This dual role provides insight into Bioptimus’ origins. Owkin utilizes AI and machine learning to expedite drug discovery, establishing numerous collaborations with leading biopharmaceutical companies.

Through this work, Owkin has accumulated a substantial amount of multimodal patient data, which now serves as the training data for Bioptimus’ foundational model.

Rather than establishing a dedicated division within Owkin focused on foundational models, creating a distinct entity proved more logical.

As Vert explained to TechCrunch last year, “Developing biology [foundational models] doesn’t align with Owkin’s strategic roadmap, but Owkin actively supports and intends to collaborate with a company like Bioptimus.”

“Training large-scale [foundational models] necessitates significant resources in terms of data volume, computational power, and data modality breadth, which are more readily accessible as a specialized entity. As a dedicated ‘pure player’ in foundational models, Bioptimus is optimally positioned for this.”

Expanding Capabilities and Future Development

In recent months, Bioptimus released H-Optimus-0, an open-source foundational model for pathology. This model, trained on millions of images, aids in the research and diagnosis of diseases, including cancer.

With a new $41 million in funding, the company plans to enhance its AI platform with a wider range of data sources, covering more therapeutic areas, and to forge additional partnerships within the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.

The company is preparing to launch a new multi-modal foundational model later this year, encompassing the full biological spectrum and driving innovation in medical, biotech, and cosmetic sectors.

“This model will unlock countless opportunities beyond pharmaceuticals, fostering biological discoveries in ways we are only beginning to comprehend,” Vert stated.

Investment Details

Bioptimus’ latest funding round was spearheaded by U.S. venture capital firm Cathay Innovation, with participation from Sofinnova Partners, Bpifrance, Andera Partners, Hitachi Ventures, Boom Capital Ventures, Pomifer Capital, Sunrise, and various angel investors.