Mankind Pharma has entered into a collaboration with Denovo Sciences to launch an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-led drug discovery programme, for innovation-driven and technology-enabled research and development. The partnership aims to leverage AI to transform the early stages of drug discovery by accelerating the identification and optimisation of promising drug candidates.

The collaboration will combine Mankind Pharma’s robust research and development capabilities, experimental validation infrastructure and clinical development expertise with Denovo Sciences’ proprietary AI platform for molecular generation and prioritisation. Working under a human-in-the-loop model, the partnership will integrate AI-powered molecular design with continuous oversight from scientific experts, ensuring that every stage of the discovery process is guided, validated and refined through human expertise.

The initiative is focused on three key objectives: reducing the time required for early-stage drug discovery, enhancing the quality of lead candidates and ensuring that only molecules with the strongest development potential advance further in the pipeline. By applying computational precision during the initial phases of research, the partners aim to minimise the time, cost and resources spent on candidates that are unlikely to succeed during later stages of development.

Commenting on the collaboration, Arjun Juneja, Chief Operating Officer, Mankind Pharma, said that drug discovery has traditionally been a lengthy and uncertain process with significant implications for patients. He noted that the partnership with Denovo Sciences is intended to make the process faster and more precise by combining AI’s ability to explore a much larger molecular space with a human-in-the-loop approach that keeps scientific rigour at the centre of decision-making. He added that this investment in advanced R&D represents an important step in shaping the company's future innovation strategy.

Dr. Anil Koul, Group Chief Scientific Officer, Mankind Pharma, highlighted that artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming pharmaceutical research through advances in generative chemistry, modular antibody design and process optimisation across both preclinical and clinical development. He said that the company's entry into AI-driven drug discovery will strengthen its position as one of India's leading innovation-focused pharmaceutical companies.

Echoing this sentiment, Hovakim Zakaryan, Chief Executive Officer, Denovo Sciences, described the collaboration as a natural fit, noting that the company's AI platform has been designed to work alongside experienced drug discovery scientists to generate higher-quality candidates in a shorter timeframe. 

He added that Mankind Pharma’s strong R&D capabilities and commitment to making medicines more accessible make it an ideal partner, enabling both organisations to deploy AI where it can deliver the greatest impact during the earliest stages of drug discovery.

Through this collaboration, Mankind Pharma aims to strengthen its innovation ecosystem by integrating advanced artificial intelligence technologies into pharmaceutical research, paving the way for faster, more efficient and data-driven drug development.