Abu Dhabi’s investment firm MGX has participated in a $2.1 billion Series B round for UK-based Isomorphic Labs, a drug discovery company using artificial intelligence to reshape pharmaceutical research. The move highlights a strategic shift for Gulf investors, pushing capital beyond foundational AI infrastructure like chips and data centers into specialized, high-growth applications.
Quick Facts
- Round Size: $2.1 billion Series B
- MENA Investor: Abu Dhabi’s MGX
- Lead Investor: Thrive Capital
- Sector: AI Drug Discovery
Beyond Infrastructure: Gulf Capital Targets AI’s Next Frontier
MGX’s participation underscores how capital from the Gulf is moving deeper into the global AI stack. While past investments have focused on compute power and data infrastructure, this deal targets the high-stakes world of healthcare and biotech.
The round, led by Thrive Capital, also included backing from Alphabet, GV, Temasek, CapitalG, and the UK Sovereign AI Fund, placing the Abu Dhabi firm alongside major global technology investors. The investment comes as competition intensifies in AI-powered pharmaceutical research, with firms racing to build models that shorten the lengthy and expensive process of developing new drugs.
Scaling AI-First Drug Discovery
With the new capital, Isomorphic Labs plans to significantly expand its AI drug design engine, known as IsoDDE. The funding will also be used to scale hiring across its AI, engineering, drug design, and clinical research teams.
A key goal is to accelerate the company’s pipeline of therapeutic programs, moving them closer to clinical development.
“This capital injection allows us to build out our drug design engine at scale, driving us forward in our mission to solve all diseases,” said CEO Sir Demis Hassabis.
About Isomorphic Labs
Founded in 2021 by Sir Demis Hassabis, Isomorphic Labs is an AI-first drug design and development company. A subsidiary of Alphabet, it develops proprietary AI models designed to accelerate drug discovery and find cures for some of humanity’s most devastating diseases.
About MGX
MGX is an Abu Dhabi-based technology investment company focused on accelerating the development and adoption of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. Backed by the emirate, it aims to position Abu Dhabi as a global leader in the AI economy by investing across the entire technology stack, from infrastructure to applications.
Source: Waya
