India is stepping up efforts to turn artificial intelligence-driven drug discoveries into potential treatments.

 

This, with the Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), signing an Rs. 86-crore funding agreement with Bengaluru-based Peptris Technologies Private Limited to advance four drug candidates towards clinical development.

 

The funding, provided under the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund through Optionally Convertible Debt (OCD), will support Peptris’ VIGOR programme, a Rs. 172-crore project aimed at moving AI-discovered molecules from laboratory-stage development to more advanced preclinical milestones and clinical trial preparation.

 

Titled VIGOR: Advancing AI-Discovered Molecules from Bench to Clinic, the programme will target the progression of four drug candidates from Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-4 to TRL-6 over three years.

 

The initiative seeks to tackle a critical hurdle in AI-driven drug discovery: turning computational predictions into scientifically validated drug candidates that can potentially progress towards human trials. While AI can help researchers identify promising molecules and explore disease mechanisms, extensive experimental validation, preclinical testing and regulatory preparation remain essential before clinical development can begin.

 

Peptris’ VIGOR programme will advance four candidates targeting a range of therapeutic areas: PEPR111: Neuromuscular disorders and oncology; PEPRX101: Alopecia; PEPR202: Neuropathy; PEPR112: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

 

All four candidates are currently at TRL-4, with the project aiming to advance them to TRL-6. The planned development pathway includes advanced preclinical and investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies, formulation development, clinical trial preparation and initiation activities, subject to scientific progress and applicable regulatory requirements.

 

The programme will combine Peptris’ proprietary AI-driven drug discovery platform with experimental validation and established drug-development processes. The company also plans to draw on global contract research organisation (CRO) networks to support development and validation.

 

By advancing multiple candidates through a coordinated programme, the initiative aims to strengthen the translation of AI-led research into potential therapeutic products, particularly in disease areas where effective treatment options remain limited.

 

Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary, TDB, said, “The application of artificial intelligence in pharmaceutical research has the potential to transform how new drug candidates are identified and developed. However, translating promising discoveries into validated therapeutic candidates requires sustained investment, rigorous scientific evaluation and a structured development pathway. 

 

"Through the RDI Fund, TDB is supporting such technology-intensive programmes to help bridge the gap between innovation and clinical development, while strengthening India’s capabilities in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and AI-led healthcare innovation.”

 

A representative of Peptris Technologies Private Limited said, “The support from TDB under the RDI Fund will help us advance our VIGOR programme and progress our AI-discovered molecules through critical preclinical development milestones. 

 

"Our approach combines AI-driven discovery with experimental validation and established drug-development processes to address unmet medical needs. This partnership will support our efforts to translate promising computational discoveries into therapeutic candidates with the potential to progress towards clinical development.”

 

The agreement marks another push to strengthen India’s pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem by supporting the development-intensive phase between AI-enabled discovery and potential clinical application. The programme’s progress will depend on scientific validation, preclinical outcomes and the necessary regulatory clearances before the drug candidates can advance into human trials.