Bioptimus aims to revolutionise healthcare with $41M boost

A French AI startup, Bioptimus, is pioneering a new approach to healthcare by developing an advanced AI model designed to simulate biological processes, unlocking new possibilities for disease research and treatments.

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A biotech startup Bioptimus has raised $41 million to develop an advanced AI model aimed at simulating biological processes. Dubbed the ‘GPT for biology,’ this technology seeks to predict disease outcomes and accelerate the discovery of new treatments by learning from vast datasets that span everything from molecules to entire organisms.

The funding round, led by US venture firm Cathay Innovation, highlights a growing global interest in AI-driven healthcare. The French company’s CEO, Jean-Philippe Vert, explained that Bioptimus uses a model akin to those powering chatbots like ChatGPT, but instead of generating text, it simulates complex biological interactions. The goal is to help researchers better understand disease mechanisms and improve treatments in sectors ranging from medicine to cosmetics.

Founded less than a year ago, Bioptimus has already launched H-Optimus-0, an open-source model that aids in diagnosing diseases such as cancer. With the latest funding, the company plans to expand its platform by integrating a broader range of data and forming new partnerships with biotech and pharmaceutical firms to drive innovation in healthcare.

France has become a hotbed for AI startups, with companies like Mistral AI and Hugging Face raising massive funds. Bioptimus’s rapid rise highlights how specialised AI models are transforming industries beyond traditional tech sectors.