Eli Lilly Invests in Superluminal's $120M Series A for AI in Clinics

Superluminal Medicines, a biotech company focused on AI, secured a $120 million Series A funding round led by RA Capital, as announced on Monday. This substantial investment is expected to propel its initial drug program into clinical testing and broaden its pipeline beyond six preclinical initiatives, according to CEO Cony D’Cruz.

Based in the Greater Boston area, Superluminal is developing small molecules aimed at targeting specific proteins located on cell membranes, such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). While details remain confidential, D’Cruz did not disclose specific drug targets, therapeutic priorities, or projected timelines for clinical trials. However, the involvement of industry giant Eli Lilly as a new Series A investor could offer clues. Eli Lilly is at the forefront of developing obesity medications targeting the GLP-1 receptor, a type of GPCR, alongside Novo Nordisk.

When questioned about potential interest in the cardiometabolic field, D’Cruz remained tight-lipped. He also refrained from confirming whether Superluminal is focusing on GLP-1. Nonetheless, he acknowledged a "joint interest" with Lilly in the targets they are pursuing. He elaborated on how their technology might help create a superior oral candidate for GLP-1 by minimizing or eliminating side effects through precise targeting of different protein conformations.

“This challenge aligns well with our platform,” D’Cruz noted, adding that more information would be disclosed as they approach clinical trials.

In addition to RA Capital, other investors in the funding round include Catalio Capital Management and Cooley LLP, joining existing supporters such as Insight Partners, Nvidia’s corporate venture arm, and Gaingels. Superluminal was officially launched in August 2023 with an initial $33 million in seed funding.

D’Cruz, who previously served as chief business officer for Schrödinger, explained that Superluminal's platform enables the study of multiple protein conformations and their associated biological effects. The biotech utilizes virtual screening of small molecules to find candidates that bind to a specific protein shape while avoiding other variations. Furthermore, the company is developing AI-driven approaches to predict potential toxicities.

The technology integrates Schrödinger’s pioneering physics-based methods with machine learning. Yet, D’Cruz pointed out that artificial intelligence, although integral, isn’t the central focus for Superluminal. The company, which currently has 15 employees, aims to leverage and refine publicly accessible AI models when feasible, constructing proprietary models only when necessary to fill gaps in their R&D process.

“Our goal is to develop drugs, not spend our time creating algorithms,” D’Cruz remarked.

While the specifics of their six drug programs remain undisclosed, D’Cruz did confirm that all six target well-established biological pathways, currently treated with injectable peptide drugs. Among these, only one target presently has a small molecule in clinical testing.

“Our objective is to establish a small molecule platform capable of addressing these high-value targets at a significantly lower economic cost,” D’Cruz concluded.