Google’s AI-designed drugs to enter human trials this year
Alphabet-owned Isomorphic Labs says its first AI-designed drug is nearly ready for human trials, targeting diseases like cancer and heart failure.
Alphabet’s Isomorphic Labs is preparing to begin the first human clinical trials of a drug designed with the help of artificial intelligence, according to company leadership.
The UK-based firm, which emerged from Google DeepMind in 2021, has not disclosed the target condition or a specific timeline for the trial’s commencement.
Colin Murdoch, president of Isomorphic Labs and Chief Business Officer at DeepMind, reportedly said the company is “getting very close” to launching its first clinical trial.
He confirmed that teams in London are currently advancing drug candidates into the preclinical stage. The comments were made during an interview published by Fortune and widely cited by other outlets.
Built on AlphaFold’s structural modelling
Isomorphic Labs builds on AlphaFold, the DeepMind system that can predict 3D protein structures. Since its public release in 2020, AlphaFold has been integrated into global research pipelines and was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2024.
The company claims its drug candidates are based on insights derived from this protein modelling capability. While the platform has been adopted across scientific institutions, its direct application in drug development remains under observation.
Industry partnerships and funding
The firm has partnered with pharmaceutical companies such as Novartis and Eli Lilly to develop AI-based therapies, reportedly focusing on oncology and immunology. In April 2025, Isomorphic Labs raised $600 million in a funding round led by Thrive Capital. The funds are intended to support clinical development and expansion of the firm’s AI infrastructure.
CEO Demis Hassabis had earlier stated in reports that the company aimed to have its first molecule in human trials by the end of 2025. No confirmation has been made regarding whether this timeline is still on track.
While the company has signalled progress towards human testing, no data on regulatory filings, trial locations, or study phases has been released.