TDB-DST signs agreement with Peptris for ₹86 crore RDI support to accelerate AI-driven drug discovery and development

The Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, has signed an agreement with Peptris Technologies Private Limited for financial support of ₹86 crore under the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund. The total project cost is ₹172 crore and funding is provided through Optionally Convertible Debt. Titled 'VIGOR: Advancing AI-Discovered Molecules from Bench to Clinic', the project aims to advance four AI-discovered drug candidates from Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-4 to TRL-6. The candidates include PEPR111 (neuromuscular disorders and oncology), PEPRX101 (alopecia), PEPR202 (neuropathy), and PEPR112 (DMD), with a structured progression over three years covering preclinical and investigational new drug-enabling studies.