French startup aims to accelerate drug discovery via ‘digital twins’ of cells

DeepLife secures $10m to advance AI platform designed to identify molecular triggers capable of driving diseased cells into a healthy state.

Paris-based biotech DeepLife has successfully closed a $10 million Series A funding round. The company leverages AI to create so-called “digital twins” of human cells to support drug discovery and therapeutic development.

Founded in 2019 by Jonathan Baptista , an expert in simulation tools for aeronautics, and Jean-Baptiste MORLOT , a researcher in AI applications for genetics and epigenetics, DeepLife harnesses multi-omics data, systems biology and generative AI to address inefficiencies in drug development processes. At the heart of the company’s approach is its Cell Blueprint platform, a sophisticated tool designed to map cellular networks and uncover therapeutic strategies tailored to specific cell types.

My take on this: Cell Blueprint leverages one of the largest multi-omics databases alongside advanced AI models and curated scientific literature to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind cell behavior. This platform helps identify triggers that can restore diseased cells to health. It also lets researchers to simulate drug effects at the cellular level, offering new avenues for developing treatments for conditions once thought untreatable.

Claiming its technology has already attracted the attention of “major industry players,” Baptista, DeepLife’s CEO, said: “By pushing the boundaries of AI and biology, we aim to uncover therapies for diseases once thought untreatable, creating a future where no disease is beyond reach.”

According to DeepLife, the Cell Blueprint platform supports multiple applications within the drug development ecosystem. In target discovery and validation, it enables precise analysis of cell-type-specific networks, simplifying the identification of unique pathways critical to specific cell types. For biomarker discovery, the platform’s ability to dissect cellular networks ensures the identification of robust, consistent biomarkers, improving diagnostic precision. In drug repurposing, it addresses a key challenge by predicting drug effects on specific cell networks, reducing off-target risks and enhancing success rates. Finally, the platform sheds light on the mechanisms of complex diseases by differentiating disease-associated networks across cell types, thereby guiding the development of targeted therapeutic interventions.

Learn more about DeepLife's Cell Blueprint and more right HERE.

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