The Technology Development Board (TDB), a division of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, has signed an agreement with Peptris Technologies Private Limited, a Bengaluru-based biotech company, to provide financial support of ₹86 crore for advancing artificial intelligence-driven drug discovery. The company will receive this funding through Optionally Convertible Debt, a financial instrument that can be converted to equity. The project, called VIGOR, seeks to push four drug candidates from early-stage development towards clinical trials within three years.
Peptris will use this support to accelerate the translation of computationally discovered molecules into validated therapeutic candidates. The total project cost is ₹172 crore, with the TDB providing half the funding through its Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund. This initiative reflects India’s push to strengthen its biotechnology and pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem by combining artificial intelligence with established drug development expertise.
Key facts
- TDB funding amount: ₹86 crore
- Total project cost: ₹172 crore
- Funding mechanism: Optionally Convertible Debt
- Number of drug candidates: four
- Drug candidates: PEPR111 (neuromuscular disorders and oncology), PEPRX101 (alopecia), PEPR202 (neuropathy), PEPR112 (DMD)
- Starting Technology Readiness Level: TRL-4
- Target Technology Readiness Level: TRL-6
- Project duration: three years
- Company location: Bengaluru, Karnataka
What the VIGOR programme aims to do
The VIGOR (Advancing AI-Discovered Molecules from Bench to Clinic) programme addresses a major challenge in biotechnology: while artificial intelligence can rapidly identify promising drug molecules and disease mechanisms, turning these computational discoveries into actual medicines requires extensive experimental work. Peptris will use TDB support to conduct advanced preclinical studies, formulation development, investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies and clinical trial preparation for its four candidates.
Each of the four drug candidates is currently at Technology Readiness Level 4, meaning they exist as proof-of-concept at laboratory scale. The project targets advancement to TRL-6, where the technology has been validated in a relevant environment and is ready for transition to clinical development. This progression typically involves animal testing, safety validation and regulatory preparation.
The AI-driven drug discovery approach
Peptris’ VIGOR programme combines AI-enabled molecular discovery with traditional pharmaceutical development processes. The company uses its proprietary AI platform to identify molecules targeting therapeutic areas with significant unmet medical needs. However, the company recognises that computational predictions must be experimentally validated through rigorous scientific testing before human trials can begin. To support this validation phase, Peptris plans to work with global contract research organisations (CROs) that specialise in preclinical studies and regulatory compliance.
The four drug candidates address distinct medical conditions: PEPR111 targets neuromuscular disorders and cancer, PEPRX101 addresses hair loss, PEPR202 focuses on nerve damage, and PEPR112 targets Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). By advancing multiple candidates simultaneously within a coordinated programme, Peptris aims to diversify its pipeline while building institutional capacity for AI-to-clinic translation.
The RDI Fund and its role
The Technology Development Board’s RDI Fund supports early-stage and technology-intensive projects that bridge the gap between laboratory research and commercial development. Many promising innovations fail to reach patients because companies lack capital to fund expensive preclinical and clinical validation phases. By backing the VIGOR programme, TDB aims to demonstrate that India’s innovation ecosystem can sustain AI-driven drug discovery from discovery through clinical testing.
What this means for you
If you work in biotechnology or pharmaceutical research, this project demonstrates growing government investment in technology-intensive programmes that combine cutting-edge AI with drug development. For patients suffering from neuromuscular disorders, oncology, alopecia, neuropathy and muscular dystrophy, the successful completion of this project could eventually yield new treatment options. The initiative also signals India’s commitment to building indigenous pharmaceutical innovation capacity rather than relying entirely on imported therapeutics. For startup founders and researchers, the TDB’s RDI Fund offers a potential funding pathway for early-stage biotech projects addressing unmet medical needs.
What happens next
Over the next three years, Peptris will advance the four drug candidates through preclinical development milestones and IND-enabling studies. The company must meet scientific and regulatory requirements at each stage of development. Upon successful completion of preclinical validation and regulatory approval, the candidates would then be eligible for human clinical trials. The TDB will monitor progress and may evaluate the project’s impact on India’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology capabilities.