Digital biology company Optic is collaborating with early-stage oncology therapeutics venture, Vindur Tx, to use Optics proprietary generative AI platform to find novel highly selective kinase inhibitors and develop more effective cancer treatments. 

Vindur Tx agreed to pay Optic as much as $17.5 million for its proprietary technology to search for new ways of addressing what the company called previously "undruggable" targets in difficult-to-treat cancers. The strategy could lead to new and more effective treatments.

Optic's AI platform BIOPTIC accelerates the drug discovery process by utilizing an ultra-high-performance exclusive AI screening platform for testing billions of compounds in minutes. 

The process helps explore the previously unreachable vast chemical space to search for novel drug candidates faster.

"Working with BIOPTIC has been a revelation," Vindur Tx cofounder Deniz Kural said in a statement. "They delivered highly selective ligands in record time, significantly accelerating our research. We're thrilled with the results and the potential impact on our projects."

Diabetes life sciences company, Zucara Therapeutics, announced that pharma giant Sanofi has made a strategic investment in the company as part of its $20 million Series B financing. Sanofi will also receive an exclusive right of first negotiation.

The Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Fund and other investors participated in the round which could increase to $25 million. 

Proceeds from the financing will fund Zucara's ongoing Phase 2a trial of the effect of ZT-01 On Nocturnal hypoglycemia Events in Type 1 diabetes ("T1D") mellitus ("ZONE") and the nonclinical activities to support a once-weekly version of ZT-01.

"Having led Zucara's US$21 million Series A financing in early 2020, we are proud to continue to support the company in advancing the development of ZT-01, especially alongside strategic partner and world-leading healthcare company, Sanofi," Chris Garabedian, portfolio manager at Venture for Perceptive Advisors, said in a statement.

"By preventing hypoglycemia in people using insulin therapy, ZT-01 represents a promising approach to improving health outcomes of people living with diabetes."

MintNeuro, a company involved in low-power semiconductor technology for minimally-invasive neural implant applications, announced it raised £1 million ($1.27 million) in a funding round led by Empirical Ventures. 

Parkwalk Advisors (through the Imperial College Enterprise Fund), Imperial College London, Plug & Play, Excellis Holding and several investors participated in the round.

MintNeuro uses semiconductor technology to make neural implants smaller, more efficient and scalable. With over £14 million ($17.84 million) in underpinning R&D grant funding to date, the MintNeuro team used semiconductor manufacturing to permit cost-effective, mass-producible neural devices.

"Our semiconductor-based approach is fundamentally reshaping what neural implants can achieve," Timothy Constandinou, CTO and cofounder of MintNeuro, said in a statement. 

"By offering a customisable, compact solution that integrates seamlessly into medical devices, we're empowering a new era of neural interfaces that are not only more powerful but also less invasive. This marks a transformative shift in neurological care."