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Insilico Develops The World’s First Fully AI-Generated Drug
The Abu Dhabi-based company hopes to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and has 30 more drugs in the pipeline.
In a busy biotech hub in Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City, Insilico Medicine is pushing the frontiers of science. Under the watchful eye of Latvian-born CEO Dr Alex Zhavoronkov, the company has developed an AI-generated drug to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) — a deadly disease of the lungs.
“This AI drug is a major milestone for us and the industry as a whole,” Dr. Zhavoronkov explains. “We can use AI to create lifesaving treatments for new diseases using approaches we haven’t yet considered and do so much more rapidly and efficiently”.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by scarring of the lungs and has no known cure. Insilico’s AI drug aims to halt or even reverse the progression of IPF and is currently undergoing Phase 2 clinical trials in the US and China. The success of these trials will pave the way for more in-depth testing, bringing the drug closer to mass market approval.
Insilico’s groundbreaking research was recently published in Nature Biotechnology. It highlights how the company’s AI platform, Pharma.AI, is connecting the dots between fibrosis and aging to drive forward the discovery of a cure.
IPF treatment is just the beginning for Insilico. The company already has a roadmap consisting of over thirty AI-designed drugs, with seven already in clinical patient trials. These include treatments for inflammatory bowel disease, immuno-oncology targets, and even drugs developed using a method that targets a protein in cancers that can kill them without harming healthy cells.
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Dr Zhavoronkov’s ultimate goal is to leverage AI to unravel the complex processes involved in aging. “Our number one priority is to teach AI to understand the basic biology of aging, and I think we’ve succeeded in that process. Now, we need to demonstrate that we can utilize this understanding to cure diseases,” he says.
Insilico Medicine’s AI-driven drugs showcase the massive untapped potential of artificial intelligence in all aspects of healthcare. As the company continues to innovate, its work brings hope to patients around the world and demonstrates that the future of medicine is promising, thanks to the application of the latest technological breakthroughs.
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Rabbit Expands Hyperlocal Delivery Service In Saudi Arabia
The e-commerce startup is aiming to tap into the Kingdom’s underdeveloped e-grocery sector with a tech-first, locally rooted strategy.
Rabbit, an Egyptian-born hyperlocal e-commerce startup, is expanding into the Saudi Arabian market, setting its sights on delivering 20 million items across major cities by 2026.
The company, founded in 2021, is already operational in the Kingdom, with its regional headquarters now open in Riyadh and an established network of strategically located fulfillment centers — commonly known as “dark stores” — across the capital.
The timing is strategic: Saudi Arabia’s online grocery transactions currently sit at 1.3%, notably behind the UAE (5.3%) and the United States (4.8%). With the Kingdom’s food and grocery market estimated at $60 billion, even a modest increase in online adoption could create a multi-billion-dollar opportunity.
Rabbit also sees a clear alignment between its business goals and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to boost retail sector innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises, attract foreign investment, and develop a robust digital economy.
The company’s e-commerce model is based on speed and efficiency. Delivery of anything from groceries and snacks to cosmetics and household staples is promised in 20 minutes or less, facilitated by a tightly optimized logistics system — a crucial component in a sector where profit margins and delivery expectations are razor-thin.
Despite the challenges, Rabbit has already found its stride in Egypt. In just over three years, the app has been used by 1.4 million customers to deliver more than 40 million items. Revenue has surged, growing more than eightfold in the past two years alone.
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CEO and Co-Founder Ahmad Yousry commented: “We are delighted to announce Rabbit’s expansion into the Kingdom. We pride ourselves on being a hyperlocal company, bringing our bleeding-edge tech and experience to transform the grocery shopping experience for Saudi households, and delivering the best products – especially local favorites, in just 20 minutes”.
The company’s growth strategy avoids the pitfalls of over-reliance on aggressive discounting. Instead, Rabbit leans on operational efficiency, customer retention, and smart scaling. The approach is paying off, having already attracted major investment from the likes of Lorax Capital Partners, Global Ventures, Raed Ventures, and Beltone Venture Capital, alongside earlier investors such as Global Founders Capital, Goodwater Capital, and Hub71.
Rabbit Expands Hyperlocal Delivery Service In Saudi Arabia
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