Pepticom operates an AI-driven platform for de novo design and discovery of peptide-based therapeutics, combining machine learning with biochemistry. The platform leverages over 600 natural and non-natural amino acid building blocks to explore an estimated >10^80 potential peptide structures. Pepticom is advancing an oral IL-17 inhibitor program, designing two families of fully synthetic small cyclic peptidomimetic inhibitors with nanomolar activity targeting IL-17A and IL-17F. Its lead compounds have demonstrated increased stability and extended half-life in vitro and in vivo. The company is targeting unmet needs in psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and other autoimmune diseases and positions its approach as faster and lower-cost versus traditional small-molecule and biologic discovery. The new funding is intended to accelerate development of the oral IL-17 program and broader next-generation peptide therapeutics. Pepticom is a Jerusalem-based AI-powered drug discovery company focused on designing peptide-based therapeutics. Its proprietary AI screens a chemical space of 1,030 molecular options and prioritizes solubility, permeability and other factors to speed candidate identification and reduce development risk. Using this platform the company identified several SARS-CoV-2–related protein targets and designed peptide drug candidates that were then validated in the lab. Those results led Pepticom to spin out PeptiCov, a program focused on COVID-19 treatments. Pepticom has raised $2.6 million to power the PeptiCov spinoff, with funding provided by previous investor The Chartered Group. Founder and CEO Immanuel Lerner has positioned the effort as a response to the likely long-term presence of COVID-19 and its variants. Pepticom develops AI technology to streamline and accelerate the discovery of advanced peptide-based drug candidates. Its platform covers a chemical-space of 1030 possible molecular options while filtering candidates for properties such as solubility and permeability. Peptides are used in various therapies and are recognized for being highly selective, efficacious, and relatively safe. The company was founded in 2011 by multidisciplinary PhD graduates from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and licensed its technology from Yissum. Led by founder and CEO Immanuel Lerner, Pepticom intends to use the Series A proceeds to develop new AI models to increase molecular discovery efficacy and reduce risk for later development stages. The company is based in Jerusalem, Israel.

Total raised

$14M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Series A

Latest activity

Jan 2025