Introduction
Google DeepMind’s drug discovery arm, Isomorphic Labs, is almost ready to begin human trials of its AI-designed drugs. In an interview with Fortune, Colin Murdoch, President of Isomorphic Labs and Google DeepMind’s Chief Business Officer, said that the company is “getting very close” to starting human trials of these drugs. This development signifies a potential step for Isomorphic Labs after years of work on its AI-assisted drug designing. Isomorphic Labs was established as a separate entity from DeepMind in 2021. Its foundation stems from AlphaFold, a notable AI system developed by DeepMind, which is recognised for its ability to predict protein structures with considerable accuracy. GetMyIndia.com
About Isomorphic Labs
Isomorphic Labs Limited is a London-based company that uses artificial intelligence for drug discovery, founded by Demis Hassabis. Since the beginning of Isomorphic Labs in 2021, it has partnered with major pharmaceutical companies like Novartis and Eli Lilly. The company secured $600 million in funding in April 2025 to accelerate the mission. Alongside supporting existing drug programmes, the company is researching and developing new drugs in fields like oncology and immunology.
Currently, pharma companies spend millions and years on a single drug development. With only a 10 per cent success rate in trials, Isomorphic Labs is aiming to use AI to boost the odds and reduce the resources required for the entire process.
“We identify an unmet need, and we start our own drug design programs. We develop those, put them into human clinical trials…we haven’t got that yet, but we’re making good progress,” said Mr. Murdoch.
“We’re trying to do all these things: speed them up, reduce the cost, but also really improve the chance that we can be successful. One day we hope to be able to say, well, here’s a disease, and then click a button and out pops the design for a drug to address that disease. All powered by these amazing AI tools,” he added.
How does it work?
AlphaFold, the technology at the heart of Isomorphic Labs, made a name for itself by predicting the 3D structure of proteins. This ability has given scientists a clearer view of how proteins interact with other molecules, which is essential for designing new drugs. Isomorphic Labs has taken this foundation and built a team that combines AI researchers with pharmaceutical experts. The company’s work is focused on diseases like cancer and immunology, areas where new treatments are badly needed. In addition, the company has secured partnerships with major pharmaceutical firms, including Novartis and Eli Lilly. These collaborations are designed to support both existing drug programmes and the development of new, in-house drug candidates. According to President Colin Murdoch, Isomorphic Labs is now close to moving its AI-designed drugs into human clinical trials, as reported by Fortune. Teams in London are now seeing several candidates who’ve been put through preclinical testing, and the next step is to test these drugs in people.
Why AI Drugs are a Significant Development
Unlike conventional drug development processes, AI-based drugs are more accurate in their protein structures. These structures can be modified to target particular cells of diseases like cancer and ensure better efficacy than regular drugs. Novel approaches can help doctors, scientists, and medical experts tackle intractable diseases better than ever. Researchers believe AI drugs can be developed dramatically faster and in less time, saving companies billions of dollars. Traditional drugs take more than a decade to come through.
With human trials imminent, the company is looking for candidates who have undergone preclinical tests previously to participate in the trials. The outcome of these trials will decide whether AI can contribute to medicine in the real world, but a commercial launch will require regulatory approvals. However, the ethical concerns around AI and its implications in an area as sensitive as health could make it challenging for Isomorphic Labs to advocate for the release of AI drugs.
Using AI for Drug Discovery
With the rapid rise of AI, other biotech companies such as Anima Biotech, Iktos, and Novo Nordisk are also harnessing the technology for more effective operations. Notably, Novo Nordisk signed a deal worth 2.76 billion dollars with Valo Health, aiming to make use of AI in their drug discovery process.
As per GlobalData statistics, over 3,000 drugs exist that have either been developed or re-purposed using AI technologies. While most of them are in the early stages of their development, they have still to been clinically tested on humans. With its upcoming human tests, Isomorphic Labs could potentially pave the way for further progress in the biotech application of AI.
Conclusion
Isomorphic Labs’ impending human trials mark a pivotal moment in the convergence of AI and healthcare. By applying advanced technologies like AlphaFold, the company aims to reduce the time, cost, and failure rates typically associated with drug development. If successful, these trials could validate the use of AI in creating more precise and effective treatments for complex diseases such as cancer. While challenges remain, particularly around regulation and ethics, the potential benefits are enormous. This milestone could usher in a new era where AI becomes a cornerstone of pharmaceutical innovation, transforming how we develop and deliver medicine.
