Google DeepMind and its drug discovery company Isomorphic Labs will soon begin human trials of AI‑designed drugs. This historic step, expected by the end of 2025, could change medicine forever.
The drugs were created with DeepMind’s new tool, AlphaFold 3, which can predict how proteins and drug molecules interact. This might cut drug discovery time from years to months.
🤖 What Are AI‑Designed Drugs?
AI‑designed drugs are medicines discovered and developed mainly by artificial intelligence instead of traditional lab work.
DeepMind’s AlphaFold project already solved complex protein structures, helping scientists worldwide. Now, the next step is turning these insights into real medicines for patients.
💰 Big Money and Big Partnerships
Isomorphic Labs is not alone:
- It raised $600 million from investors like Thrive Capital in April 2025.
- It also signed deals with top pharma companies Novartis and Eli Lilly.
This mix of AI power, pharma experience, and fresh funding is why experts are watching closely.
🔬 How AlphaFold 3 Changes the Game
AlphaFold 3 is not just an upgrade. It predicts:
- Protein structures
- How these proteins bind with DNA and RNA
- And even how small drug molecules attach to them
This could help scientists design better drugs much faster—saving money and lives.
🌍 Why This Is Important
Drug discovery today often takes over 10 years and costs more than $1 billion.
If AI‑designed drugs make the process quicker and cheaper:
- Patients could get life‑saving treatments sooner
- New medicines could reach rare diseases that companies usually skip
- Healthcare systems worldwide could save billions
⚠️ What Happens Next?
- DeepMind plans to start trials by late 2025
- First data could come in 2026
- Success could attract even more investment and competition in AI drug discovery
Experts warn that AI still faces challenges: safety checks, regulations, and real‑world testing.
🧪 Who Else Is in This Race?
DeepMind isn’t alone. Other AI biotech startups like Insilico Medicine have already put AI‑designed drugs into early human trials.
But DeepMind’s scale, technology, and partnerships make this the biggest AI drug discovery push yet.
✅ Summary
By the end of 2025, Google DeepMind’s Isomorphic Labs aims to put its AI‑designed drugs into human clinical trials.
If successful, it could:
- Cut drug discovery time
- Lower costs
- And change how new medicines are created forever.
