OpenAI Researcher Miles Wang in Talks to Launch $2B AI Drug Discovery Startup

Miles Wang, an OpenAI researcher whose work includes using AI to accelerate scientific and biological discovery, is leaving the ChatGPT maker to launch a new startup focused on developing AI models for drug discovery, according to four people with knowledge of his plans. Several other OpenAI researchers are expected to join the new company. Wang is in talks to raise about $200 million at a $2 billion valuation, two of the people said.

Lightspeed is in discussions to lead the funding round, according to sources. Talks are ongoing, the deal may not be final and details could change. Wang disputed the story's funding figures and description of the company but did not specify the correct numbers or details.

Lightspeed didn't respond to a request for comment. The funding discussions point to investor interest in applying AI to make breakthroughs in life sciences. Chai Discovery, a two-year-old startup developing AI models that can predict molecular interactions to identify new drugs, announced on Tuesday that it raised $400 million at a $3.8 billion valuation.

(Co-founder Josh Meier also passed through OpenAI as a researcher.) Meanwhile, Google DeepMind spinout Isomorphic Labs, which also develops AI models for drug discovery, raised a $2.1 billion Series B in May. Wang's new startup may be working on AI models that will help find new uses for existing drugs and possibly those that previously failed in trials, a couple of sources told TechCrunch. Finding new uses for FDA-approved drugs can result in significantly faster time to revenue than developing new drugs from scratch, as these medicines have already been tested for safety.

Wang joined OpenAI in 2024 after dropping out from Harvard, where he was working on a bachelor's degree in computer science. (In recent years, investors are once again comfortable betting on young founders who haven't completed college.) At OpenAI, he co-authored research papers, including evaluating how AI models can automate and accelerate scientific discovery. The emergence of AI-driven drug discovery startups like Wang's is poised to significantly impact the pharmaceutical industry.

By leveraging AI models to identify new uses for existing drugs or predict molecular interactions, these companies can accelerate the discovery process and bring new treatments to market faster. This trend also highlights the growing interest in applying AI to life sciences, with investors betting on the potential for breakthroughs. For developers and businesses, this means a potential shift towards more efficient and effective drug discovery methods.

However, questions remain about the long-term efficacy and safety of AI-discovered treatments, and regulatory frameworks will need to adapt to keep pace with the rapid advancements in this field.