InVirtuoLabs Company Profile

Background

InVirtuoLabs is a Swiss-based biotechnology startup founded in 2024 by Gianvito Grasso, PhD, Stefano Muscat, PhD, and Sertac Yeltekin. The company is headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland. Its mission is to revolutionize drug discovery by integrating cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) with molecular simulations, aiming to accelerate the development of treatments, particularly for rare diseases. By leveraging advanced machine learning techniques and physics-based simulations, InVirtuoLabs seeks to reduce the time and cost associated with traditional drug development processes.

Key Strategic Focus

InVirtuoLabs focuses on:

• Core Objectives: Accelerating drug discovery processes and reducing associated costs.

• Specialization Areas: Developing treatments for rare diseases and targeting nuclear receptors involved in various conditions.

• Key Technologies: Utilizing multimodal learning, active learning, generative chemistry, and physics-based simulations.

• Primary Markets: Pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, with an emphasis on rare diseases.

Financials and Funding

In February 2025, InVirtuoLabs secured €2.85 million in its first funding round. The investment is intended to support rapid expansion over the next 18 months, including team strengthening, strategic collaborations, and platform capability enhancements.

Pipeline Development

InVirtuoLabs' drug discovery pipeline includes several candidates at various stages:

• IVL-001: Targeting neurological disorders.

• IVL-002: Also focusing on neurological disorders.

• IVL-003: Aimed at oncology treatments.

• IVL-004: Addressing metabolic disorders.

The company has developed a protocol for drugs targeting nuclear receptors, proteins involved in over 100 diseases, including metabolic disorders and certain cancers. This protocol is currently applied to receptors associated with high-incidence metabolic diseases to expedite new treatment discoveries.

Technological Platform and Innovation

InVirtuoLabs' proprietary platform, the Next Generation Virtual Lab, integrates AI with molecular modeling to identify and optimize drug candidates efficiently. This modular solution comprises:

• InVirtuoMOL: A molecular machine learning engine.

• InVirtuoGEN: A multimodal generative AI component.

• InVirtuoSIM: A physics-based simulation tool.

This approach reportedly doubles success rates compared to current research methods, significantly reducing both costs and development times.

Leadership Team

• Gianvito Grasso, PhD: Chief Executive Officer

• Biomedical Engineer with a PhD in Computational Science.

• Over 10 years of experience in molecular simulations and machine learning.

• Principal Investigator of several national and international research projects.

• Sertac Yeltekin: Chief Operating Officer

• Over 30 years of international experience in managerial roles across corporate and consulting sectors.

• Expert in venture building and business development.

• Stefano Muscat, PhD: Molecular Modeling and Simulations

• Biomedical Engineer with a PhD in Informatics.

• Specializes in integrating enhanced molecular simulations for drug design applications.

• Demet Olesen: Chief Commercial Officer

• Over 25 years of experience as a pharmaceutical executive with companies like Pfizer, Novo Nordisk, Baxter, Pharma Nord, and PTC Therapeutics.

• Francesco Gentile, PhD: AI for Chemistry

• Expert in AI for chemistry with over 10 years of experience in computer-aided drug discovery.

• Contributed to the development of several drug candidates for cancer, viral infections, and neurodegenerative diseases.

• Claudio Pietra: Chief Scientific Officer

• Over 30 years in preclinical research and development.

• Former Director and Head of Innovation at Helsinn Healthcare SA.

• Experience with companies like Recordati, Chiesi Pharmaceutical, and Glaxo Wellcome.

• Benno Käch, PhD: Generative Chemistry

• Machine Learning Researcher with a PhD in particle physics.

• Expertise in generative modeling, statistical analysis, and machine learning.

• Lorenzo Pallante, PhD: Molecular Modeling and Machine Learning

• Biomedical Engineer with a strong background in molecular modeling and machine learning for predicting molecular properties.

Leadership Changes

As of June 2025, there have been no significant changes or appointments within InVirtuoLabs' leadership team.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The pharmaceutical industry is experiencing a paradigm shift with the integration of AI and machine learning in drug discovery. This transformation aims to address the traditionally high costs and lengthy timelines associated with developing new therapies. The global AI in drug discovery market is projected to grow significantly, driven by the need for efficient and cost-effective solutions.

Competitor Analysis

InVirtuoLabs operates in a competitive landscape with several key players:

• Insilico Medicine: Specializes in AI-driven drug discovery, focusing on aging and age-related diseases.

• Atomwise: Utilizes AI for structure-based drug design, aiming to expedite the discovery of small molecule therapies.

• Exscientia: Combines AI with human expertise to design and discover novel drug candidates.

These competitors leverage AI to streamline drug discovery processes, each with unique methodologies and focus areas.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

InVirtuoLabs has engaged with biotech and pharmaceutical companies of various sizes to refine its models and ensure alignment with industry needs. These collaborations aim to keep the company at the forefront of innovation and accelerate the delivery of transformative solutions.

Operational Insights

InVirtuoLabs' strategic positioning at the intersection of AI, pharmaceutical innovation, and biotechnology provides distinct competitive advantages:

• Technological Edge: Proprietary platform integrating AI with molecular simulations.

• Experienced Leadership: Team with extensive backgrounds in pharmaceuticals and AI.

• Focus on Rare Diseases: Addressing unmet needs in the treatment of rare conditions.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

InVirtuoLabs plans rapid expansion over the next 18 months, focusing on:

• Team Strengthening: Recruiting top talent in AI and drug discovery.

• Strategic Collaborations: Partnering with industry leaders to enhance platform capabilities.

• Platform Enhancement: Expanding the Next Generation Virtual Lab's functionalities.

These initiatives aim to solidify InVirtuoLabs' position as a leader in AI-driven drug discovery.

Contact Information

• Website: InVirtuoLabs Official Website

• LinkedIn: InVirtuoLabs LinkedIn Profile

• Headquarters: Lugano, Switzerland