BigHat Biosciences Raises $75M for AI Drug Discovery

BigHat Biosciences has successfully closed a $75 million Series C funding round, propelling its mission to revolutionize protein therapeutic development through advanced artificial intelligence. The substantial capital infusion, co-led by prominent venture firms DFJ Growth and Premji Invest, underscores significant investor confidence in BigHat's proprietary AI and experimental platform. This latest financing brings the company's total funding to an impressive $223 million, providing critical resources to advance its clinical-stage pipeline and further enhance its autonomous AI capabilities.

The strategic investment will be instrumental in accelerating the development of BigHat's novel drug candidates, notably BHB810, an antibody-drug conjugate targeting CDH17 for gastrointestinal cancers. The company recently achieved a significant milestone by dosing the first patient in the Phase 1 trial for BHB810, marking one of the earliest instances of an AI-designed biologic entering human clinical evaluation. Beyond this lead program, BigHat is also advancing BHB299, a T-cell engager aimed at solid tumors expressing CEACAM6, with preclinical development nearing completion and human trials anticipated in 2027.

BigHat's innovative approach centers on an integrated system that generates proprietary biological data, which is then used to train and refine its AI models. This continuous feedback loop between molecular design and automated laboratory experimentation allows for the rapid discovery and optimization of protein-based medicines with precisely tailored properties for clinical success. This contrasts with traditional methods that often rely heavily on existing, potentially less relevant, datasets. The company's platform is designed to overcome key challenges in drug development, ensuring molecules possess the necessary characteristics for efficacy and safety.

The Series C round saw robust participation from a distinguished group of investors. In addition to the lead investors, Catalio Capital Management, LG Technology Ventures, and Sigmas Group joined the round. Existing backers demonstrating continued support include 8VC, Alexandria Venture Investments, Amgen Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, Discovery Ventures, GRIDS Capital, Intermountain Ventures, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, Quadrille Capital, and Section 32. This broad investor base highlights the widespread recognition of BigHat's technological prowess and market potential.

The influx of capital will also fuel the expansion of BigHat's AI-driven protein engineering capabilities and support its growing pipeline of preclinical antibody therapeutics targeting oncology and immunology indications. The company has already forged significant collaborations with industry giants such as Amgen, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, AbbVie, and Eli Lilly. Recent expansions include a strategic collaboration with Johnson & Johnson, multiple project collaborations with Merck, and participation in Eli Lilly's TuneLab initiative, underscoring the platform's versatility and value across diverse therapeutic challenges.

To support its transition into clinical development and scale operations, BigHat has bolstered its leadership team. Key appointments include Stefan Weigand, Ph.D., formerly Head of Large Molecule Research at Roche, as Chief Scientific Officer, and John Corbin, Ph.D., previously CTO at Tizona Therapeutics, as Chief Development Officer. These strategic hires, coupled with the significant Series C funding, position BigHat Biosciences to effectively advance its innovative therapeutic programs and solidify its leadership in AI-powered drug discovery.