Sam Altman-backed Startup Partners with Microsoft to Enable the AI Infrastructure for Drug Discovery

Founded in 2018 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1910 Genetics merges AI, computational analysis, and biological automation to expedite the creation of small-molecule and protein therapeutics. In 2021, the company raised a combined Seed and Series A funding of $26.1M backed by M12-Microsoft’s Venture Fund, Playground Global, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and other leading investors.

By merging AI-driven drug design with wet lab automation, the company aims to enhance productivity, reduce failure rates in pharmaceutical R&D, and improve the efficiency of drug discovery processes. Leveraging its multi-platform engines, ELVIS™ and ROSALYND™, 1910 Genetics is capable of generating novel drug candidates more swiftly and cost-effectively, enhancing success probabilities compared to conventional pharmaceutical approaches. 

The company's technology is modality-agnostic and supports the entire early drug discovery process, from novel hit discovery through lead optimization. 1910 Genetics is actively applying its technology to various therapeutic areas, including neuroscience, infectious diseases, immunology, and oncology.

“We are thrilled to be collaborating with 1910 Genetics to bring their pioneering AI drug discovery engines to Azure Quantum Elements,” said Jason Zander, Executive Vice President of Strategic Missions and Technologies at Microsoft.

Building on the Lab Automation Trend