New Delhi: Peptris Technologies Private Limited has secured ₹86 crore in financial support from the Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, under the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund to accelerate AI-driven drug discovery and development.
The agreement between TDB and Bengaluru-based Peptris Technologies covers the company’s VIGOR programme, titled “Advancing AI-Discovered Molecules from Bench to Clinic.”
The programme has a total project cost of ₹172 crore and aims to advance four drug candidates from Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-4 to TRL-6 through preclinical development, validation and preparation for clinical trials.
The ₹86 crore financial support for Peptris Technologies will be provided through Optionally Convertible Debt (OCD).
Peptris Technologies’ VIGOR Programme to Advance Four Drug Candidates
Artificial intelligence is creating new possibilities in drug discovery by helping researchers identify promising molecules, investigate disease mechanisms and accelerate the search for potential therapies.
However, translating computational discoveries into viable drug candidates requires extensive experimental validation, preclinical studies and clinical development.
The VIGOR programme by Peptris Technologies seeks to address this transition by leveraging the company’s proprietary AI-driven drug discovery platform to advance a portfolio of molecules towards clinical development.
The programme focuses on therapeutic areas with significant unmet medical needs and aims to identify and develop novel therapies by combining computational capabilities, scientific validation and established drug-development processes.
Under the VIGOR programme, Peptris Technologies is working on four drug candidates: PEPR111, PEPRX101, PEPR202 and PEPR112.
PEPR111 is targeting neuromuscular disorders and oncology, while PEPRX101 is focused on alopecia. PEPR202 is targeting neuropathy and PEPR112 is focused on DMD.
Each of the four candidates is currently positioned at TRL-4, with the project targeting advancement to TRL-6.
Three-Year Development Programme
The development programme by Peptris Technologies envisages a structured progression over three years.
It will cover advanced preclinical and investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies, formulation development, clinical trial preparation and initiation activities, subject to relevant scientific and regulatory requirements.
The VIGOR programme is designed to build on Peptris Technologies’ AI-based drug discovery capabilities and existing platform experience to accelerate the development of novel therapeutic candidates.
The approach combines AI-enabled discovery with established drug-development expertise, including the use of global contract research organisation (CRO) networks to support development and validation.
By supporting the advancement of multiple candidates through a coordinated programme, the project seeks to strengthen the translation of AI-led research into potential therapeutic products.
The programme’s focus on selected disease areas also reflects the opportunity to direct innovation towards conditions where effective treatment options remain limited.
TDB Highlights Role of AI in Pharmaceutical Research
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.”
The support from the RDI Fund is expected to help Peptris Technologies progress its VIGOR programme through critical preclinical development milestones and move its AI-discovered molecules closer to clinical development.
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 support for an AI-driven drug development programme focused on moving multiple drug candidates from laboratory-stage development towards clinical development through preclinical validation, formulation and IND-enabling activities.
