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.
Combining “one of the world’s largest” multi-omics databases with state-of-the-art AI models and curated scientific literature, Cell Blueprint provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of cells, supporting the identification of triggers capable of driving diseased cells back to a healthy state. The platform allows researchers to simulate drug effects at the cellular level, opening possibilities for therapies targeting conditions previously considered undruggable.
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.
The Series A funding, led by YZR Capital and Relyens Innovation Santé with support from Beiersdorf Venture Capital, Prunay Group and existing backers, will allow DeepLife to further develop its digital twin platform and validate its potential application in autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.
“DeepLife’s unique solution combining multi-omics databases and cutting-edge AI models to create digital twins of cells holds immense potential not just for revolutionizing drug discovery but also for applications ranging from biomanufacturing to precision medicine,” said Turenne Capital’s Claire Poulard.
