insitro
Category: AI in Biotech / Drug Discovery
insitro is a machine-learning-driven drug discovery and development company. It combines large-scale human and cellular data with ML to find novel targets and build first-in-class therapeutics. insitro was founded in 2018. The company is led by Daphne Koller. Based in South San Francisco, United States. Team size: 101-500. Total funding raised: $750M+. Latest round: Series C. Key investors include CPP Investments, Andreessen Horowitz, GV, ARCH Venture Partners, Foresite Capital, Two Sigma Ventures, Bezos Expeditions.
- Founded
- 2018
- Headquarters
- South San Francisco, United States
- Team size
- 101-500
- Total funding
- $750M+
Value proposition
insitro generates and integrates massive multi-modal human and cellular datasets to build a causal model of human biology. It then uses ML and agentic systems to identify high-conviction targets and design drugs, with the aim of raising the low probability of success in therapeutic R&D.
Products and solutions
ML-driven target discovery platform built on human genetics, clinical, and cellular phenotypic data such as high-content imaging and functional genomics. ChemML molecule design and DNA-encoded libraries. Internal preclinical pipeline in metabolic disease and neuroscience (ALS), with initial liver fat and fibrosis programs expected to enter the clinic in early 2027.
Unique value
insitro is a vertically integrated 'cells to pixels to drugs' platform. It pairs in-house generation of large-scale disease-relevant cellular data with ML to derive causal biology insights, and it advances its own preclinical assets, with initial liver fat and fibrosis programs expected to enter the clinic in early 2027.
Target customer
Large pharmaceutical partners such as AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Gilead, alongside insitro's own internal therapeutic pipeline.
Industries served
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, Metabolic disease (MASH, cardiometabolic, cardiomyopathies), Neuroscience (ALS)
Technology advantage
In-house high-throughput biology and automation produce proprietary multi-modal datasets, combined with human genetics and clinical data. Bilingual biology/ML teams, ChemML chemistry, and multiple validated big-pharma partnerships with milestone-based economics.
How they differentiate
insitro emphasizes generating its own causal, human-relevant multi-modal data at scale rather than relying on public data or chemistry-first design. It focuses on target discovery from human genetics plus cellular phenotypes, and develops internal assets in addition to pharma partnerships.
Main competitors
Recursion Pharmaceuticals, Isomorphic Labs, Insilico Medicine
Key partnerships
AstraZeneca (Oct 2026, cardiometabolic: MASH and cardiomyopathies, $40M upfront, up to ~$1.46B in milestones), Bristol Myers Squibb (ALS, since 2020, $25M milestone payments announced Dec 2024, extended Oct 2025 and expanded Mar 2026), Eli Lilly (Oct 2024, siRNA metabolic medicines), Gilead (2019, NASH)
Notable customers
AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Gilead Sciences
Major milestones
2018: founded by Daphne Koller with a $100M Series A. 2019: Gilead NASH collaboration. 2020: $143M Series B and BMS ALS deal. 2021: $400M Series C led by CPP Investments. 2024: Eli Lilly metabolic collaboration (Oct 9) and $25M BMS milestone payments for discovery milestones and selection of the first novel ALS target (Dec 18). 2025: 22% workforce reduction and BMS ALS extension. 2026: BMS expansion (Mar) and AstraZeneca cardiometabolic deal (Oct 15, $40M upfront, up to ~$1.46B). Initial liver fat and fibrosis programs expected to enter the clinic in early 2027.
Growth metrics
$750M+ in investor capital. Cut roughly 22% of its workforce (about 65 employees) in 2025 to extend its runway into 2027. Secured a $40M upfront payment from AstraZeneca in Oct 2026, with up to ~$1.46B in milestones.
Market positioning
insitro is one of the best-funded private AI-native drug discovery companies ($750M+ in investor capital). It has multiple independent big-pharma partnerships and is positioned as a platform-validated, Series C-stage biotech moving toward the clinic.
Geographic focus
United States / Global pharma partnerships
Patents and IP
US patent 12,665,048: Synthon embeddings for modeling DNA-encoded libraries; assigned to Insitro, Inc. Inventors: Benson Chen, Mohammad Muneeb Sultan, and Theofanis Karaletsos.
About Daphne Koller
Co-founder & Co-CEO, Coursera; Professor of Computer Science (and Pathology), Stanford University (now adjunct); Chief Computing Officer, Calico (Alphabet). MacArthur Fellow; member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Latest news about insitro
More AI in Biotech / Drug Discovery companies
Official website: https://www.insitro.com