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This Startup Is Using AI To Revive Failed Drugs: Here’s How It’s Attracting Investors

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 21, 2025

Ignota Labs, a startup with a unique approach to drug discovery, is using artificial intelligence to breathe new life into drugs that were once abandoned due to safety concerns. The company recently raised $6.9 million in seed funding, a significant sum that highlights the growing investor interest in AI-driven solutions for pharmaceutical innovation.

Led by CEO Sam Windsor, Ignota Labs targets drug candidates that were 80-90% developed but ultimately scrapped due to toxicity issues. Instead of reinventing the wheel, Ignota Labs acquires these “failed” drugs, diagnoses their safety issues using AI, and tweaks the compounds for another shot at clinical trials. Windsor believes this approach could save time and money compared to traditional drug development.

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“Traditional drug discovery could cost upwards of $10 million and take seven to eight years just to reach clinical trials,” Windsor explained. “Our approach can achieve the same result in less than two years and for under $1 million.” This pitch resonated with investors, with Montage Ventures and AIX Ventures co-leading the seed round. Other investors, including Modi Ventures, Blue Wire Capital, and Gaingels, also participated.

Ignota Labs stands out in a crowded field of AI drug discovery companies. While many startups focus on creating entirely new drugs, Windsor’s team has chosen to concentrate on refining existing candidates that others have left behind. “In 2021, AI-driven drug discovery was exploding, but most of these companies weren’t addressing the drugs that had already been developed,” Windsor noted. He believes this oversight presents a valuable opportunity, particularly in safety science, which tends to be undervalued by many in the sector.

The company’s AI platform, which analyzes toxicity and suggests chemical modifications, is key to its success. Windsor points out that while safety science may not be the most glamorous part of drug development, it holds immense potential. “Safety is seen as a hurdle to overcome rather than the exciting end goal,” he said. “But this is where we see real opportunity.”

Now, with the fresh capital from the recent funding round, Ignota Labs plans to acquire additional distressed drug assets and advance its first drug—an Alzheimer’s treatment based on a PDE9A inhibitor—into early-stage trials.

Despite the challenging fundraising environment over the past two and a half years, Ignota Labs has found the right backers who believe in its innovative approach to breathing new life into old drug candidates. If successful, Ignota Labs could become a game-changer in the pharmaceutical industry, offering a cost-effective, accelerated path to clinical trials and potentially revolutionizing how the industry views “failed” drugs.

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Foreign Firms Contribute €3.5 Billion To Cyprus Economy In 2023

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

November 12, 2025

Recent Eurostat data reveals that Cyprus remains an outlier within the European Union, where foreign-controlled companies contribute minimally to the nation’s employment figures and economic output. While these enterprises have a substantial impact in other member states, in Cyprus they account for only 10 percent of all jobs, a figure comparable only to Italy and marginally higher than Greece’s 8 percent.

Employment Impact

The report highlights that foreign-controlled companies in Cyprus employ 32,119 individuals out of a total workforce that, across the EU, reaches 24,145,727. In contrast, countries such as Luxembourg boast a 45 percent job share in foreign-controlled firms, with Slovakia and the Czech Republic following closely at 28 percent.

Economic Output Analysis

In terms of economic contribution, these enterprises generated a total value added of €3.5 billion in Cyprus, a small fraction compared to the overall EU total of €2.39 trillion. Notably, Ireland leads with 71 percent of its value added stemming from foreign-controlled firms, followed by Luxembourg at 61 percent and Slovakia at 50 percent. On the lower end, France, Italy, Greece, and Germany exhibit values below 20 percent.

Domestic Versus Foreign Ownership

The data underscores Cyprus’s heavy reliance on domestically controlled enterprises for both employment and economic output. However, it is important to note that certain businesses might be owned by foreign nationals who have established companies under Cypriot jurisdiction. As a result, these firms are classified as domestically controlled despite having foreign ownership or management components.

Conclusion

This analysis emphasizes the unique role that foreign-controlled enterprises play within the Cypriot economy. While their overall impact is limited compared to some EU counterparts, the presence of these companies continues to contribute significantly to the island’s economic landscape.