Business Wire

BIOPTIMUS

Share
Ex-Google DeepMind and Owkin scientists team up to create Bioptimus to build the first universal AI foundation model for biology

Today, French startup Bioptimus emerged from stealth following a seed funding round of $35M. Under the leadership of Professor Jean-Philippe Vert, PhD, Bioptimus unites a world-class team of scientists from Owkin and Google DeepMind alumni to transform ​biology with cutting-edge AI foundation model technologies that capture the various scales of biology. This funding round is led by Sofinnova Partners, with Bpifrance Large Venture, and additional support from global funds based in France, including Frst and multistage VC Cathay Innovation. Top global tech investors Headline, Hummingbird, NJF Capital, Owkin and Top Harvest Capital, as well as notable tech entrepreneur Xavier Niel, have joined the round to create a global leader in AI for biology in France.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240220205004/en/

Professor Jean-Philippe Vert, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Bioptimus, Chief R&D Officer of Owkin and former Research Lead at Google Brain, said: “The application of foundation models and generative AI to biology is set to have a profound impact in science. By harnessing the power of foundation models and advanced algorithms trained on massive amounts of biological and multimodal data across scales, we aim to capture the laws of biology that have hitherto remained too complex to be properly understood. This holistic understanding of biology across scales will be critical to accelerate biomedical and environmental science.”

Edward Kliphuis, Partner at Sofinnova Partners, added: “Foundation models in biology are game-changers. They unlock unprecedented potential to personalize medicine, capturing the uniqueness of each individual while harnessing the collective knowledge of all. Bioptimus stands out by seamlessly blending unparalleled data resources and access, elite talent, and extensive computational power. Together with Sofinnova's deep expertise in life sciences and our expansive network, we're poised to redefine the future of the industry."

Laurent Higueret, Senior Investment Director at Bpifrance Large Venture, commented: “Founded on the ambition to make a quantum leap in our understanding of the complexity of human biology and bringing together a top team of accomplished experts in the fields of data science and generative AI, Bioptimus holds the promise to go even deeper in the analysis of patients’ data across multiple levels and help unveil biological connections hitherto unthought-of. We at Bpifrance are delighted to team-up with such an impressive team and group of investors and support the development of a category defining company that has the potential to disrupt many R&D activities.”

Bioptimus will benefit from Owkin’s data generation capabilities and federated global access to multimodal patient data sourced from leading academic hospitals worldwide, as well as a best-in-class, scalable and secure computing environment from Amazon Web Services, Inc (AWS). Fueled by an abundance of data from all scales and modalities, this gives the power to create computational representations that establish a strong differentiation against models trained solely on public datasets and a single data modality that are not able to capture the full diversity of biology.

About Bioptimus

Bioptimus is building the first universal AI foundation model in biology to drive advancements in scientific research and biotechnological innovation. Leveraging a team of world-class experts, employing state-of-the-art AI technologies and accessing unique proprietary data at scale, we aim to fuel breakthrough discoveries and accelerate innovations in biomedicine and beyond. For more information, please visit https://www.bioptimus.com.

About Owkin

Owkin is a TechBio company that combines the best of human and artificial intelligence to ensure every patient gets the right treatment. By understanding complex biology through AI, we identify new treatments, de-risk and accelerate clinical trials and develop AI diagnostics. Owkin uses privacy-enhancing federation to access up-to-date multimodal patient data that unlocks AI’s potential to power precision medicine. We merge wet lab experiments with advanced AI techniques to create a powerful feedback loop for accelerated discovery and innovation. Owkin founded MOSAIC, the world’s largest multi-omics atlas for cancer research. Owkin has raised over $300 million through investments from leading biopharma companies (Sanofi and BMS) and venture funds (Fidelity, GV and Bpifrance, among others).

About Sofinnova Partners

Sofinnova Partners is a leading European venture capital firm in life sciences, specializing in healthcare and sustainability. Based in Paris, London and Milan, the firm brings together a team of professionals from all over the world with strong scientific, medical and business expertise. Sofinnova Partners invests in companies from seed to late-stage, and actively partners with ambitious entrepreneurs as a lead or cornerstone investor to develop innovations that will positively impact our collective future.

Founded in 1972, Sofinnova Partners has backed over 500 companies and created market leaders around the globe. Today, Sofinnova Partners has over €2.5 billion under management. For more information, please visit: sofinnovapartners.com

About Bpifrance and its Large Venture fund

Bpifrance is the French Public Investment Bank and acts as one-stop-shop offering domestic companies a comprehensive range of financial products and services to support them at every stage of their development including equity, loans, guarantees and export insurances, as well as consultancy or training.

Large Venture - the late-stage VC arm of Bpifrance - is a €1.75 billion fund dedicated to fast-growing, highly innovative startups looking to accelerate organic or external growth. Large Venture was incepted in 2013 with the mission to bring the most promising French technologies from the lab to the market, and ultimately to profitability. Large Venture invests in private and public companies across three main sectors: healthtech and life sciences, digital and greentech. For more information, please visit us at: bpifrance.fr

To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240220205004/en/

About Business Wire

Business Wire
Business Wire
101 California Street, 20th Floor
CA 94111 San Francisco

http://businesswire.com
DK

Subscribe to releases from Business Wire

Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from Business Wire

Galderma Successfully Placed an Inaugural EUR 500 Million Single Tranche Eurobond and New Dual Tranche CHF 435 Million CHF Bonds14.3.2025 07:00:00 CET | Press release

Galderma Group AG (SWX:GALD): NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OR IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE RESTRICTED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR REGULATION. Galderma (SIX: GALD) has made significant progress on its refinancing strategy to spread out its maturity profile, diversify funding sources and reduce its interest costs, by successfully issuing the following bonds: EUR 500 million bond, with a 5-year maturity and a 3.5% fixed-rate annual coupon CHF 190 million bond, with a 4-year maturity and a 1.4025% fixed-rate annual coupon CHF 245 million bond, with a 8-year maturity and a 1.8098% fixed-rate annual coupon The payment dates are March 20, 2025, for the Eurobond and the CHF bonds. The bonds will be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The EUR transaction was led by BNP Paribas, J.P. Morgan, Mizuho, and Santander as active bookrunners, while the CHF transaction was led by UBS and BNP Paribas. Galderma is rated BBB (stable outlook) by Fitch and Fitch is expect

Cessna Citation X and X+ Customers Benefit From Starlink High-Speed Internet Availability13.3.2025 16:00:00 CET | Press release

Textron Aviation today announced an additional high-speed internet connectivity solution for the Cessna Citation X and X+ following the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) issuance of AeroMech’s Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for Starlink high-speed internet connectivity. AeroMech’s STC utilizes Starlink’s constellation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites to provide more reliable connectivity over land, water and remote areas, where traditional in-flight Wi-Fi may not have service. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250313683324/en/ Textron Aviation announced an additional high-speed internet connectivity solution for the Cessna Citation X and X+ following the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) issuance of AeroMech’s Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for Starlink high-speed internet connectivity. (Photo Credit: Textron Aviation) Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker customers receive factory-direct suppor

ClickHouse Acquires HyperDX to Accelerate the Future of Observability13.3.2025 16:00:00 CET | Press release

ClickHouse, the company behind the world's fastest analytical database, today announced the acquisition of HyperDX, an open-source observability platform built on ClickHouse. This strategic acquisition reinforces ClickHouse's commitment to delivering the fastest, most cost-effective, and scalable solutions to developers and enterprises worldwide; including observability. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250313954782/en/ ClickHouse, the company behind the world's fastest analytical database, today announced the acquisition of HyperDX, an open-source observability platform built on ClickHouse. (Graphic: Business Wire) The acquisition combines ClickHouse's unmatched performance and scalability with HyperDX's developer-first experience, creating a comprehensive observability platform that seamlessly integrates session replay, exceptions, logs, infrastructure metrics, and distributed tracing through an OpenTelemetry

Credit Derivatives Determinations Committees Membership Applications for 202513.3.2025 15:33:00 CET | Press release

DC Administration Services, Inc. (DCAS) would like to invite all interested Members of ISDA to apply for a position as a member of the Credit Derivatives Determinations Committees. There is a separate Determinations Committee for each of the relevant regions. Members of ISDA may apply for membership as either a Dealer Member of the Determinations Committees or a Non-Dealer Member of the Determinations Committees (as applicable). Parties wishing to apply for such a position should carefully review and submit either an executed Dealer Participation Letter (for a prospective Dealer Member) or an executed Non-dealer Committee Participation Letter (for a prospective Non-Dealer Member) by 5pm (New York time) on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. CCPs may also apply to participate as a CCP Member by submitting a Participating CCP Institution Letter. For more information on the process and to download the form of the relevant letter, please visit https://www.cdsdeterminationscommittees.org/about-dc-co

REPLY: The Board of Directors Approved the Draft Financial Statements for the Year 202413.3.2025 15:17:00 CET | Press release

All economic indicators are positive.Consolidated turnover of €2,295.9 million (€2,118.0 million in 2023);EBITDA at €410.6 million (€352.1 million in 2023);EBIT at €330.4 million (€292.7 million in 2023)Group net profit at €211.1 million (€186.7 million in 2023)Approval of the proposed dividend distribution of €1.15 per share. Today the Board of Directors of Reply S.p.A. [MTA, STAR: REY] approved the draft financial statement for the year 2024, which will be submitted for approval to the Shareholders’ Meeting to be held in a single call in Turin on 23 April 2025. The Reply Group closed 2024 with a consolidated turnover of €2,295.9 million an increase of 8.4% compared to €2,118.0 million in 2023. All indicators are positive for the period. Consolidated EBITDA was €410.6 million, an increase of 16.6% compared to €352.1 million at December 2023. EBIT, from January to December, was at €330.4 million, which is an increase of 12.9% compared to €292.7 million at December 2023. The Group net p

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye