Recursion Leverages Supercomputing for Revolutionary Drug Discovery

2025-01-16 transformation

U.S., Thursday, 16 January 2025.
Recursion is transforming drug discovery by integrating supercomputing with advanced biological analysis, promising more accurate and efficient pharmaceutical research solutions.

Strategic Merger Creates TechBio Powerhouse

In a significant industry development, Recursion’s August 2024 acquisition of Exscientia in an all-stock deal valued at approximately $688 million [5] has positioned the company as a leading force in AI-driven drug discovery. The merged entity now manages over 30 programs in clinical and preclinical stages [3], with anticipated annual synergies exceeding $100 million [5]. This strategic combination has created one of the most comprehensive TechBio platforms in the pharmaceutical industry, supported by substantial technological infrastructure including BioHive-2, one of the most powerful supercomputers across any industry [1].

Advanced Data Integration and AI Implementation

Recursion’s platform demonstrates unprecedented scale in biological data processing, having accumulated over 60 petabytes of proprietary data across various biological fields [4]. The company conducts millions of wet lab experiments weekly [3], with a particular focus on phenomics and transcriptomics. A recent partnership with Faro Health, announced on January 14, 2025, aims to advance AI-powered clinical trial design [3], marking a significant step toward more efficient drug development processes.

Strategic Partnerships and Investment

The company’s commitment to technological advancement is further evidenced by key strategic relationships. In July 2023, Recursion secured a $50 million investment from NVIDIA to enhance its AI foundation models for biology and chemistry [5]. The company has also expanded its collaboration with Bayer, originally established in September 2020, to include oncology research [5]. These partnerships have contributed to Recursion’s substantial financial position, with $450 million in accounts from upfront and milestone payments, and potential milestone payments of up to $20 billion [5].

Future Outlook and Clinical Progress

Recursion’s pipeline shows promising momentum, with REC-994 leading a portfolio of 10 clinical and preclinical assets [5]. The company recently achieved a significant milestone with the first patient dosed for REC-1245 in Q4 2024, with Phase 1 dose-escalation updates expected in the first half of 2026 [5]. The company’s integrated approach, combining physical and digital components in iterative loops, continues to scale wet lab biology and chemistry data, organized into virtuous cycles with computational tools [7].

Bronnen

TechBio Drug Discovery