UK-based molecular design software solutions provider Optibrium secured a multimillion pound financing package from Shawbrook Bank in July 2025. With the aim of accelerating its growth in computational chemistry and AI-driven drug discovery, the strategic funding provides immediate capital and committed facilities to boost product development and global expansion. Optibrium CFO Ally Henderson tells us about the responsibility of deciding what to do with the funds, and why computer-aided drug discovery is the focus of the company.How do you plan to allocate the new financing to enhance computer-aided drug discovery (CADD) platforms?In the current market, the enormous challenges of productivity and efficiency of pharma R&D are more urgent than ever, and discovery teams need proven solutions to help them deliver the best candidates as quickly and as cost-effectively as possible. Our aim is to continue enabling scientists across the industry to do exactly that. We are really excited to share what’s coming later this year, where we’ll be enabling real-time collaboration across discovery teams.In what ways is Optibrium leveraging AI and machine learning to overcome limitations in traditional drug discovery methods, and how will the new funding support these initiatives?We recognized very early on that AI and machine learning tools are at their most powerful when you put them in the hands of the scientists who are already experts in their field. Our flagship AI platform, Cerella, which leverages deep learning to predict late-stage outcomes from early-stage data, facilitates informed decision making and better compound prioritization. We have also embedded AI-driven generative chemistry into our molecule design and optimization platform, StarDrop, which allows teams to identify novel compounds tailored specifically to their project objectives. We are already working on the next generation of drug discovery AI technology, and this new funding will ensure that we can continue to innovate in this field. Does the financing package facilitate Optibrium's expansion into new geographical markets or therapeutic areas, and what challenges are anticipated in these expansions?While we already support scientists globally, we are excited at the prospect of reinforcing our presence in some markets, particularly in regions such as China and South Korea, which are seeing fantastic growth in biopharma. Our software can be applied across all therapeutic areas, meaning there is enormous potential for further growth.Expanding in international markets presents interesting opportunities to navigate. Different cultural and working practices require us to be thoughtful about how we introduce our technology and support local teams. As we scale globally, we are committed to maintaining the high level of scientific support and customer service that our users expect.Are there plans to use the funding to establish new collaborations or partnerships that could enhance Optibrium's CADD capabilities?While the focus of this funding will be on internal development, we will continue to actively look for new collaboration opportunities with leading providers in the industry to support our goal of bringing best-in-class technologies to as many scientists as possible. We have established partnerships with organizations such as Collaborative Drug Discovery, where we have built an out-of-the-box integration to their CDD Vault platform that allows users to quickly and easily leverage their existing data.How will the investment accelerate the development and deployment of products, and what benefits are expected for end-users?Extending the power of our desk-top software, we recently built and launched a web-based offering that reduces the total cost of ownership for the customer, and speeds up deployment to our growing user base. As I mentioned earlier, we’ve got something really exciting coming at the end of the year that will take this to another level by addressing a key challenge facing the drug discovery industry today – keeping alignment and momentum across distributed, global teams working in time-sensitive environments. By connecting scientists, teams will be able to work together in real time on compound design and prioritization decisions, and access a shared view of the latest insights from data analysis. This will facilitate better-informed decision making, while preventing time wasted on duplicated efforts.Given the complexity of drug discovery data, how does Optibrium plan to use the new resources to improve data analysis and interpretation within its platforms?This is an area where we are proud of the value we already add to the industry. Drug discovery data is vast and complex, but it is also an extremely valuable resource that can be used to generate incredible insights if leveraged appropriately. Using deep learning imputation algorithms, we significantly improve predictions and guide new experiments to identify the most promising compounds and valuable experiments for project progression. Crucially, these insights are surfaced in a clear and interpretable way in order for teams to leverage them effectively and achieve significant time and cost savings.What steps is Optibrium taking to ensure that its CADD tools meet regulatory standards, and how does the new funding support these compliance efforts?As a software provider to global pharmaceutical and biotech organizations, we recognize the importance of comprehensive data security – it protects our business, and our customers. Protection starts with code development and continues through to our live products. Optibrium is ISO27001 certified, the leading international standard for information security management. We’re very proud of this, and it’s a key indicator that security is at the heart of everything we do.Will the financing be used to attract new talent or expand existing teams, and how will this impact Optibrium's ability to innovate in the CADD space?We’re now focusing on specific areas of innovation that will bring value to our business and our customers. For example, we’re currently hiring a PhD candidate for a new research project that will apply one of the latest areas of machine learning (Machine Learning Interatomic Potentials (MLIPs)) to solve real-world problems in practical applications (e.g. metabolism). MLIPs are a really exciting area of machine learning research that has the potential to bring the accuracy of very expensive quantum mechanical simulations at a tiny fraction of the computational cost (seconds instead of days). This has a particular application to our metabolism models because they rely on quantum mechanical simulations to make accurate predictions. MLIPs could make them much faster, allowing calculations on many more molecules, with even greater accuracy than our current methods. Once developed, these models will be integrated directly into our platform, giving immediate practical relevance and delivering greater value to biopharma companies seeking efficient and sustainable drug development solutions.
