Bioptimus Secures $41M to Build a GPT for Biology

French startup Bioptimus has secured $41 million in funding to develop a foundational AI model designed specifically for biological research and applications. Dubbed the “GPT for biology,” the AI platform aims to simulate the biological world, enabling groundbreaking discoveries in medicine, biotechnology, and other fields.

A GPT for Biology: What It Means

Bioptimus is training its AI model to function like ChatGPT but tailored to biology. Instead of generating text, the model simulates biological systems, from molecules to entire organisms. This enables:

• Predicting Disease Outcomes: Helping researchers foresee how diseases progress.

• Developing More Effective Treatments: Accelerating breakthroughs in drug discovery.

“Essentially, it’s like the GPT of biology — but instead of generating text, we’re simulating biology,” said Jean-Philippe Vert, co-founder and CEO of Bioptimus.

The model's potential spans far beyond pharmaceuticals. Vert highlights possibilities in areas such as cosmetics, biotech, and medical diagnostics, underscoring its ability to unlock discoveries across various industries.

Why Bioptimus Stands Out

Founded in 2024, Bioptimus has rapidly emerged as a leader in AI-driven biology, raising $76 million in under a year. Key factors driving its success include:

Experienced Leadership:

• CEO Jean-Philippe Vert also serves as chief R&D officer at Owkin, a French unicorn specializing in AI for drug discovery and optimizing clinical trials.

• CTO Rodolphe Jenatton brings expertise from senior research roles at Amazon and Google.

Unique Origins:

Bioptimus spun out of Owkin, leveraging its multimodal patient data to train its foundation model. Creating an independent entity allowed Bioptimus to focus solely on building foundational models with the necessary data volume, computing power, and resources.

Achievements and Future Goals

Bioptimus has already made strides with H-Optimus-0, an open-source foundational model for pathology. Trained on millions of images, it aids in disease research and diagnosis, including cancer detection.

With the new $41 million funding, Bioptimus plans to:

• Expand its AI platform with diverse data sources across therapeutic areas.

• Build partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

• Launch a multi-modal foundational model later this year, capable of driving advancements across medical, biotech, and cosmetic sectors.

“Beyond pharmaceuticals, this model will unlock limitless possibilities across many other industries, driving biological discoveries in ways we are only beginning to imagine,” Vert added.

France’s Thriving AI Ecosystem

Bioptimus is part of a growing trend of French AI startups attracting significant investment. Recent examples include:

• Mistral AI: $640 million.

• Hugging Face: $235 million.

• H: $220 million.

Bioptimus' success showcases the region's leadership in generative AI and its applications in specialized fields like biology.

Funding Details

The $41 million round was led by U.S.-based Cathay Innovation, with participation from:

• Sofinnova Partners

• Bpifrance

• Andera Partners

• Hitachi Ventures

• Boom Capital Ventures

• Pomifer Capital

• Sunrise Several

• Other angel investors

What This Means

Bioptimus is at the forefront of using AI to simulate the complexities of biology, a leap that could revolutionize how we understand and treat diseases. While its primary focus remains pharmaceuticals and medical research, the technology's adaptability to other industries, like cosmetics and biotech, suggests a far-reaching impact.

The company's rapid funding success and ambitious roadmap reflect both the promise of AI in biology and the growing investor interest in transformative technologies. As Bioptimus gears up to release its next-generation foundation model, the world could be on the brink of a new era in biological research and innovation.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.