Bengaluru, October 12: The Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, has entered into an agreement with Bengaluru-based Peptris Technologies Private Limited to provide ₹86 crore in financial assistance for advancing artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery and development.
The funding, extended under the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund, will support Peptris’ ₹172 crore project, titled VIGOR: Advancing AI-Discovered Molecules from Bench to Clinic. The programme aims to move four drug candidates from Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-4 to TRL-6 through preclinical research, experimental validation and preparation for clinical trials. The assistance will be provided through an Optionally Convertible Debt (OCD) arrangement.
The initiative seeks to address a major challenge in AI-led pharmaceutical research: converting computationally identified molecules into potential therapeutic candidates that can progress through laboratory validation, preclinical testing and subsequent clinical development.
Peptris plans to use its proprietary AI-driven drug discovery platform alongside established drug-development processes to advance the selected candidates. The programme will focus on therapeutic areas with unmet medical needs and is expected to run over three years.
The four candidates included in the development programme are PEPR111, targeting neuromuscular disorders and oncology; PEPRX101, focused on alopecia; PEPR202, targeting neuropathy; and PEPR112, focused on Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
According to the project plan, the candidates are currently at TRL-4, with the objective of reaching TRL-6. Planned activities include advanced preclinical studies, investigational new drug (IND)-enabling research, formulation development and preparation for clinical trials. Progression will depend on scientific outcomes and applicable regulatory requirements.
The programme will also draw on global contract research organisation (CRO) networks to support development and validation. By pursuing four candidates under a common framework, Peptris aims to combine AI-enabled molecular discovery with experimental evidence and established pharmaceutical development practices.
Commenting on the agreement, TDB Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Pathak said AI could significantly change the process of identifying and developing new drug candidates. He noted that translating promising discoveries into validated therapeutic candidates requires sustained financial investment, rigorous scientific assessment and a structured development pathway.
Pathak said the RDI Fund was supporting technology-intensive initiatives to bridge the gap between innovation and clinical development while building India’s capabilities in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and AI-enabled healthcare.
A representative of Peptris Technologies Private Limited said the financial support would help the company advance its VIGOR programme through important preclinical development milestones. The representative highlighted the integration of AI-based discovery, experimental validation and established drug-development methods as central to the company’s efforts to address unmet medical needs.
The agreement comes amid growing interest in the application of AI across pharmaceutical research, including molecular identification and the development of potential new therapies. However, drug candidates must still demonstrate safety, efficacy and compliance with regulatory requirements before they can be approved for clinical use.
Through the VIGOR programme, TDB and Peptris aim to accelerate the development of selected AI-discovered molecules and strengthen the translation of research into potential therapeutic products. The project’s eventual clinical and medical outcomes will depend on successful development, validation and regulatory clearances.