Warp Sciences funding has reached $215 million as former OpenAI science leader Kevin Weil launches a startup focused on robotic drug discovery. The company aims to automate laboratory experiments that currently require extensive manual work.
Weil announced the funding on Oct. 22, valuing Warp Sciences at $865 million. Lightspeed led the investment round, with participation from IVP, Premji Invest and Lux Capital.
Warp Sciences Funding Supports Automated Drug Discovery Labs
The startup is developing AI-trained robots that can produce and test chemical compounds. Its technology automates wet-lab procedures used to identify promising drug candidates.
Human chemists will wear cameras and sensor-equipped gloves while performing laboratory tasks. The collected movement and visual data will help train robots to reproduce those procedures.
Warp Sciences aims to run automated laboratories around the clock, letting researchers test more molecular variations. The approach could reduce the time required for repetitive chemical synthesis and experimentation.
Bringing Pharmaceutical Research Back to the US
Drug developers frequently outsource labor-intensive chemical synthesis to specialized contractors, including China’s WuXi AppTec. Warp Sciences wants to establish domestic automation capacity and reduce dependence on overseas suppliers.
The strategy also addresses concerns that geopolitical risks could disrupt pharmaceutical research supply chains. However, the company has not disclosed commercial deployment dates or independently validated improvements in laboratory productivity.
Weil previously served as OpenAI’s chief product officer before leading its scientific research initiatives. His new venture focuses on applying artificial intelligence to physical experimentation rather than developing AI models alone.
