Vancouver drug discovery company whose Enki generative AI platform designs novel small molecules against pre-trained protein targets for biopharma partners. Work published to date is preclinical.
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Vancouver drug discovery company whose Enki generative AI platform designs novel small molecules against pre-trained protein targets for biopharma partners. Work published to date is preclinical.
British Columbia corporation BC1221425, registered 2019-08-29, entity status Active on the province's OrgBook registry service. orgbook.gov.bc.ca
States it trained the Enki foundation model on its own proprietary dataset, drawn from millions of experimental and computational data points across more than 1,000 drug targets. variational.ai
Entered a Merck collaboration in September 2025. The USD$349M cited is a maximum potential deal value including unearned milestones, not cash received; the upfront is undisclosed. variational.ai
Reports preclinical Rakovina results: Enki generated 138 candidates, 35 synthesized, multiple hits over 50% ATR inhibition at 1 µM. In-vitro and mouse work only, no clinical data. variational.ai
Products Variational AI publishes on its own site. Each card links to the page it was taken from.
Generative drug discovery platform
Company describes it as "a generative AI platform purpose-built for small molecule drug discovery", trained on millions of experimental and computational data points and supporting rapid generation of novel, potent, selective and synthesizable lead-like structures across pre-trained drug targets.
Learn moreAnnounced rounds only, newest first. Undisclosed amounts are shown as undisclosed.
Feb 20, 2025
Investors: Nimbus Synergies, Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, Quimby Investments, Threshold Impact, Defined Capital, Flying Fish, Nepenthe Capital
Publicly announced partnerships.
Collaboration announced September 2025 applying a fine-tuned Enki trained on Merck's proprietary data. Upfront undisclosed; the headline figure is a maximum potential deal value.
Variational AI announced a collaboration under which it applies a fine-tuned version of its Enki platform, trained on Merck's proprietary data. The company receives an undisclosed upfront payment and is eligible for milestones with a total potential deal value stated as up to USD$349 million.
Variational AI announced the completion of an oversubscribed US$5.5M seed extension led by Nimbus Synergies, with Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, Quimby Investments, Threshold Impact and Defined Capital joining existing investors, to launch its foundation model for small molecule drug discovery.
Sourced from the company's own pages or announcements.
Handol Kim
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Jason Rolfe
Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer
Ali Saberali
Co-Founder and Head of Platform
Terms the company uses about its own work.
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