Schrodinger Secures $85 Million Series E Financing Co-led by WuXi AppTec and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust

Recently, VCBeat (WeChat Official Account: vcbeat) learned from foreign media that biotechnology research company Schrödinger announced the completion of an $85 million Series E financing round to support the continued growth and innovation of its computational platform, as well as to expand its drug discovery pipeline.

Schrödinger is a privately held company founded in 1990. As a leading provider of advanced molecular modeling and enterprise software solutions, it is a pioneer in life sciences and materials research, revolutionizing drug discovery through advanced molecular simulation technologies. The company’s mission is to improve human health and quality of life by developing, distributing, and applying advanced computational methods.

This round of financing was led by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust and WuXi AppTec Venture Capital Fund, with participation from leading life sciences and technology investors Deerfield Management, Baron Funds, Qiming Venture Partners, and GV (formerly Google Ventures).

“Schrödinger has demonstrated that precise molecular design can significantly accelerate drug discovery and yield unexpected solutions, thereby benefiting patients. We are pleased to support Schrödinger at this stage of its development,” said Bill Gates, who has led three investments in Schrödinger since 2010.

This new investment will support Schrödinger’s ongoing development research to expand the capabilities of its widely adopted computational platform for drug discovery and materials research. The company also plans to hire additional scientists and developers and expand its drug discovery team to advance its growing asset pipeline. Schrödinger’s portfolio includes both collaborative and proprietary programs across a range of indications, with several compounds currently in clinical development.

Li Ge, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of WuXi AppTec, stated: “We are deeply impressed by Schrödinger’s ability to drive new drug development through innovative approaches. We look forward to this investment accelerating progress for patients suffering from serious diseases.”

“This investment will enable us to continue advancing our technology platform, helping our users accelerate their work in life sciences and materials design. We are also excited to expand our drug discovery efforts, leveraging our platform to broaden our product pipeline and develop new medicines more efficiently,” said Dr. Ramy Farid, CEO of Schrödinger. “Our growth will help us fulfill our mission to improve human health and quality of life.”

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a grant-making foundation that supports initiatives in education, global health and population, and community giving in the Pacific Northwest. Locally, the foundation promotes strategies and programs to assist low-income families.

WuXi AppTec is a global leader in open-access capability and technology platforms for the research and development of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical devices, providing innovative drug R&D services to clients worldwide. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Shanghai, the company employs over 10,000 people and maintains operational entities in both China and the United States. As a customer-centric organization, WuXi AppTec offers a comprehensive suite of laboratory R&D and research manufacturing services to global pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies, covering the entire process from drug discovery to market launch.

Deerfield is an investment management firm dedicated to advancing healthcare through investment, information, and philanthropy. Deerfield partners with companies across the healthcare sector, ranging from early-stage drug research ventures to established providers of medical services and medical devices.

GV, launched in 2009 as Google Ventures, is the venture capital arm of Alphabet. GV has invested in more than 300 companies across fields such as life sciences, healthcare, artificial intelligence, robotics, transportation, cybersecurity, and agriculture, with each company driving advancements in its respective sector.

Baron Capital Management, established in 2001, provides a wide range of services and investment solutions for individual and joint accounts, as well as corporate and trust accounts.