Aqemia combines physics-based algorithms and statistical mechanics with generative AI to design novel drug candidates without relying on experimental data. The company is expanding its computational platform to target RNAs, building on work in epitranscriptomics while continuing protein-targeting programs. Aqemia is adapting its platform to handle highly flexible proteins and RNA targets and plans to experimentally determine various RNA and RNA-modifying targets to refine its technology. It reports multiple drug discovery successes across its internal pipeline and collaborations, with its most advanced programs demonstrating efficacy in animal cancer models. A partnered program with Novalix has shown a strong effect on cancer cells and is progressing in vivo models. Aqemia combines quantum-inspired physics, statistical mechanics algorithms and machine learning to train generative AI that designs potential drug molecules. Its approach generates synthetic data to predict molecular properties and interactions, aiming to reduce reliance on costly experimental data. The company’s initial therapeutic focus is oncology and immuno-oncology. Aqemia has an existing multi-year collaboration with Sanofi that could be worth up to $140 million contingent on R&D milestones. With a fresh $38M raise, the company plans to expand hiring and open a London office in early 2025 to access UK talent. This fundraising follows a €30M ($31.5M) raise in January and takes total funding past $100M. AQEMIA operates a proprietary drug discovery platform that combines generative artificial intelligence with quantum and statistical mechanics (deep physics) algorithms to design novel small-molecule candidates. The company reports several drug discovery successes both in its internal pipeline and in collaborations with pharma partners. Its internal pipeline already includes multiple projects being tested in animals, primarily in oncology and immuno-oncology, with plans to expand into the full spectrum of therapeutic areas. AQEMIA intends to scale its GenAI and deep-physics platform, expand its team with top-tier talent, and accelerate its wholly-owned pipeline of projects and assets. Leadership states the company is advancing programs toward clinical trials. The company cites a recent $140 million drug discovery deal with Sanofi as an example of its external collaboration successes. Aqemia has built a technological platform—Aqemia’s Launchpad—that pairs deep physics algorithms with generative AI to design novel drug candidates without relying on prior experimental datasets. The company grew from a spin-off of École Normale Supérieure to a 50-person team in three years and claims its deep-physics algorithms are up to 10,000x faster while maintaining costs and accuracy. Its Launchpad has produced collaborations (disclosed and undisclosed) worth up to millions of euros with major pharma partners including Sanofi, Janssen and Servier. Aqemia has launched a proprietary pipeline of several drug discovery projects spanning in vitro to in vivo stages, with a focus on oncology and immuno-oncology. The firm intends to scale a massive pipeline of wholly owned discovery projects and advance candidates into clinical trials either alone via biotech spin-offs or with partners. The company is actively recruiting to address further technology and drug discovery challenges. Aqemia develops core software, derived from academic research at École normale supérieure (PSL), that predicts the affinity between pharmaceutical targets and molecules in minutes. The company says its method is faster than other software, which can take up to a week, enabling rapid screening of millions of compounds. With a mission to disrupt the $60 billion drug discovery market, Aqemia aims to improve the speed and success rate of identifying drug candidates. The €1 million pre-seed financing led by Elaia will support spinning off the academic lab and recruiting a world-class team. Management includes CEO Maximilien Levesque, Ph.D., and COO Emmanuelle Martiano, who plan to hire in silico drug hunters, a software developer, and experts in generative artificial intelligence. Elaia framed the investment as aligned with its PSL Innovation Fund strategy to back early-stage, disruptive deeptech.

Total raised

$108M

Funding rounds

5

Latest round

Grant

Latest activity

Apr 2025