AI Meets Biology: Redefining Therapeutic Discovery with AI Proteins
At Tachyon Ventures, we think there is tremendous opportunity at the convergence of cutting-edge machine learning methods and experimental biology. AI Proteins is a shining example of this congruence, combining advanced prediction algorithms in molecular biology with a complete preclinical development stack to create and validate novel miniproteins—smaller, custom-engineered versions of proteins designed from scratch to achieve precise molecular effects and therapeutic outcomes. These miniproteins have the potential to be developed into therapies to treat a wide range of conditions across the whole of medicine. We are thrilled to announce our investment in AI Proteins as first-movers in this game-changing modality.
The Frontier of Miniproteins
Proteins are made up of long chains of amino acids. They are often described as the building blocks of life because they occur naturally and play critical roles in virtually every biological process. Proteins can also be developed into drugs. Most approved protein-based therapies are monoclonal antibodies, vaccines or replacements for naturally occurring proteins that might be deficient in a patient or that might help modulate a patient’s immune system. Almost all of the approved protein-based therapeutics are not designed by drug companies at the level of the amino acid sequence. Instead, they are engineered from naturally occurring proteins or proteins that have been generated experimentally—a process that is challenging and inefficient. AI Proteins has developed an alternative approach that enables the design of proteins in the 50-100 amino acid range de novo. The company can design, manufacture and combine these miniproteins into modular chemical structures with specific molecular targets in only 3-12 weeks. These miniproteins are not only highly adaptable to meet specific biomedical challenges but they also address key limitations of traditional biologics, such as instability and high production costs. With their modular design, miniproteins can be adapted quickly for a wide range of applications, from cancer therapies to inflammatory and metabolic diseases.
This novel approach unlocks a high level of precision and scalability in protein drug discovery, setting the stage for transformative breakthroughs.
Bridging Technology and Biology
AI Proteins exemplifies a principle central to Tachyon’s investment thesis: successful tech x bio companies must combine powerful machine learning capabilities with rigorous wet lab execution. AI Proteins’ platform is a testament to this synergy.
On the computational side, AI Proteins has amassed the largest proprietary dataset of miniproteins, enabling the use of advanced generative AI models to design and optimize therapeutic candidates with extraordinary precision. The team then validates these computational designs through a "design-build-test-learn" cycle, a process that integrates AI-driven predictions with experimental feedback. Through this cycle, AI Proteins has validated miniproteins binders for over >130 targets to date.
AI Protein’s approach drastically accelerates the timeline for therapeutic development, shrinking what typically takes years into just weeks. The result is a platform that can rapidly iterate, adapt, and scale—a compelling demonstration of the power of combining machine learning with experimental biology.
AI Proteins' Pipeline: Transforming Therapeutics Across Indications
Through a mix of partnered and internal programs, AI Proteins aim to leverage their platform by developing first-in-class oncology programs and best-in-class therapeutic candidates for inflammatory and metabolic diseases:
Oncology: Modular Miniproteins for Multivalent Drugs Miniproteins bring a new level of precision to oncology treatments by enabling multivalent drug designs. Traditional biologics often struggle to precisely control how multiple binding sites interact, but miniproteins can be engineered to independently and precisely link binding domains. This modularity ensures that immune cell engagers, specialized drugs that recruit the body's immune system to recognize and attack tumor cells, for example, are optimized to target tumor cells without affecting healthy tissues. AI Proteins has demonstrated proof of concept in this area, showing how their miniproteins can create bispecific constructs that are designed to bind to two targets simultaneously—one on the immune cell and one on the tumor—to activate immune cells and selectively destroy cancer cells. This innovation holds promise for addressing complex cancers such as acute myeloid leukemia.
Inflammation: Precise Inhibition of TNFR1 Chronic inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and Crohn’s disease are often treated with anti-TNF-α therapies, which aim to block the overactive inflammatory pathways that drive these diseases. However, current therapies lack precision, often targeting multiple pathways and leading to significant side effects, such as immunogenicity. AI Proteins is developing miniproteins that specifically inhibit TNFR1, a receptor involved in pro-inflammatory responses. Unlike broad-spectrum anti-TNF-α treatments, these miniproteins are designed to avoid cross-reactivity with TNFR2, which plays a role in immune regulation. This precision, combined with high tissue penetrance—crucial since nearly every cell in the body expresses TNFR1—could lead to safer and more effective therapies for patients with chronic inflammation.
Metabolic Diseases: Best-in-Class GLP-1R Agonists The GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) is a critical target in the treatment of metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. Current GLP-1R agonists are effective but expensive to manufacture, prone to side effects with higher dosing, and limited in their delivery methods. AI Proteins is addressing these challenges by designing miniproteins that bind tightly and selectively to GLP-1R, allowing for lower dosing and reduced side effects. These miniproteins are engineered to resist the degradation that normally occurs during digestion, enabling the potential for oral delivery—a game-changing advancement in metabolic disease treatment.
A Visionary Beginning
The story of AI Proteins is rooted in cutting-edge scientific innovation. Co-founder Dr. Chris Bahl, a pioneer in computational protein design, worked closely with Dr. David Baker, the 2024 Nobel laureate in Chemistry recognized for his groundbreaking work in protein folding and design. Their collaboration at the University of Washington laid the foundation for de novo protein design.
Later on, Chris Bahl continued his pioneering work in de novo protein design at the Institute for Protein Innovation, a nonprofit research organization based on the Harvard Medical School campus in Boston, where Dr. Bahl served as the head of Protein Design. This environment provided the foundation to develop the proprietary platform that AI Proteins utilizes today. The company was founded in 2021, with several researchers from Dr. Bahl’s team joining him in the new venture.
In November 2022, AI Proteins secured an $18.2 million seed round, co-led by Cobro Ventures and Lightchain Capital to further develop its proprietary platform and preclinical studies. Building on this momentum, the company announced a significant drug discovery collaboration valued at up to $400M with Bristol Myers Squibb in October 2024, focused on developing targeted immune cell engagers and radiopharmaceuticals to tackle oncology indications with high unmet need.
Why Tachyon Invested
At Tachyon Ventures, we look for companies that embody bold innovation, rigorous science, and transformative potential. AI Proteins is creating a platform that is as scientifically groundbreaking as it is practical. Their approach aligns perfectly with our thesis on the future of biotech: data-driven, platform-based, and designed to scale. By leveraging modular design principles and state-of-the-art computational tools, they are democratizing access to advanced therapeutics, making treatments more efficient to develop and accessible to broader patient populations.
This synergy—combined with the strong scientific background and demonstrated business progress provided by the company’s founders and the groundbreaking technology underpinning their platform—made AI Proteins a natural fit for our portfolio. We are proud to support their mission to redefine what’s possible in therapeutic discovery.
