Key Highlights:
- Peptris Technologies has secured ₹86 crore in financial support under India’s Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund, approved by the Technology Development Board (TDB), to advance four AI-discovered drug candidates through its ₹172 crore VIGOR project. The support will be provided through optionally convertible debt.
- The candidates include PEPR111 for neuromuscular disorders and oncology, PEPRX101 for alopecia, PEPR202 for neuropathy, and PEPR112 for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The three-year programme will support preclinical development, validation, and investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies.
- The project aims to advance all four candidates from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 to TRL 6, with support from global contract research organisations (CROs). The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between AI-driven drug discovery and clinical development, although progression will depend on successful preclinical validation and regulatory requirements.
Implications:
Peptris Technologies’ ₹86 crore RDI support highlights India’s push to translate AI-driven drug discovery into development-ready candidates. Advancing four programs across neuromuscular disorders, oncology, alopecia, neuropathy and DMD could diversify its pipeline, while the funding may help de-risk preclinical development. Successful validation will be critical to attracting partners and progressing toward clinical trials.
Source: ET Pharma
