# Isomorphic Labs aims to design cancer drugs with AI, plans human trials soon

Digest AI · Research · published 2026-10-30T14:05:00Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/isomorphic-labs-aims-to-design-cancer-drugs-with-ai-plans-human-trials

## Summary

Google DeepMind spinoff Isomorphic Labs, led by CEO Demis Hassabis and President Max Jaderberg, is using its AlphaFold-derived drug design engine to develop novel cancer, immune, and inflammatory disease treatments. The company has research partnerships with Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, and Eli Lilly, and has built a clinical development team in Boston in preparation for human trials, though Jaderberg declined to provide a timeline. Isomorphic's approach aims to predict molecular interactions across the entire body to minimize side effects and reduce the 90% failure rate typical in drug development. Competitors OpenAI and Anthropic have recently entered the space: OpenAI launched GPT‑Rosalind and acquired Orchestra Bio, while Anthropic partnered with six life sciences groups and targets human trials by late 2028. Experts including Oxford's Lennard Lee and Charlotte Deane caution that biological complexity remains a fundamental hurdle, and AI predictions often fail in living systems. Jaderberg emphasizes Isomorphic's focus on making medicines rather than licensing software, and sees its mission-driven culture as a hiring advantage amid safety-related departures at rival labs.

## Key points

- Isomorphic Labs uses AlphaFold-based engine to design novel cancer and immune drugs
- Partnerships with Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly; clinical team built in Boston
- OpenAI and Anthropic now competing with own drug discovery models and partnerships

## Why it matters

AI-designed drugs have yet to reach patients; Isomorphic's progress toward human trials will test whether deep-learning protein models can overcome biology's complexity and the industry's 90% failure rate.

## Sources

1. [Google spinoff Isomorphic Labs is in a race to shake up the long, painful road to cancer-beating drugs](https://businessinsider.com/isomorphic-labs-discover-cancer-beating-drugs-ai-max-jaderberg-google-2026-10) (businessinsider.com, 2026-10-30)

Part of the developing story: [AI Biotech Expands Beyond Protein Folding Limits](https://digestai.news/thread/deepmind-and-biohub-debate-alphafolds-limits-in-protein-folding) (3 stories)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Isomorphic Labs aims to design cancer drugs with AI, plans human trials soon", 30 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/isomorphic-labs-aims-to-design-cancer-drugs-with-ai-plans-human-trials

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