Company: Iktos
CEO and co-founder: Yann Gaston-Mathé
Website: https://iktos.ai/
About Iktos
From Design to Discovery: Meet Iktos, The European Deep-Tech Startup AI-Driven Revolution in Next-Generation Medicine
Iktos is a European deep-tech company founded in 2016 that applies artificial intelligence and robotics to transform how novel small-molecule therapeutics are discovered. Confronting the challenge that early-stage drug discovery is lengthy, costly and highly uncertain, Iktos has built an integrated platform combining its generative chemistry engine (Makya™), retrosynthesis AI (Spaya™) and an autonomous lab environment that orchestrates design-make-test‐analyse workflows.
By merging de-novo design (the process of creating novel molecules or proteins from scratch) with synthetic planning and automated synthesis and biological testing, Iktos has overcome the barrier of translating in-silico design into workable real-world solutions, thereby accelerating discovery timelines and de-risking early-stage discovery programs. The company’s impact on the pharmaceutical and biotech industry is marked by more than 60 collaborations, including with major research institutions and industry partners, where Iktos’ technology has enabled accelerated hit-to-lead optimisation and novel molecule generation.
This human-centric outcome means that therapies for oncology, metabolism, inflammation and autoimmune disease can progress more quickly, thus potentially benefitting patients sooner.
Iktos anchors its innovation in Europe while engaging a global market, exemplifying how European deep-tech ecosystems can deliver world-class impact. Its €15.5 m Series A financing and a €2.5 m grant from the European Innovation Council (with further funding of more than 5 million) reflect investor confidence in the technology’s scalability and relevance.
Through its SaaS platforms and drug discovery collaborations model, Iktos supports partners in advancing drug discovery projects that would otherwise be constrained by speed, cost or resource limitations. By placing the scientist-user at the centre of a seamless toolchain, the company combines technical rigour with meaningful human impact – turning complex chemical space into actionable therapeutic opportunities.
Iktos stands as a compelling candidate for recognition because it addresses one of the most important problems in early-stage drug discovery: the inefficient discovery of new medicines by using advanced technology grounded in human purpose. The company’s European roots, global ambitions and tangible industry traction align with the values of innovation, inclusivity and impact.
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