Ex-OpenAI science chief Kevin Weil launches Warp Sciences with $215M for drug chemistry

Drug discovery chemistry startup Warp Sciences Inc. launched today with $215 million in new funding, six months after co-founder and Chief Executive Kevin Weil left his job running science initiatives at OpenAI Group PBC. Warp is building a chemistry contract research organization in the U.S. to supply biotech and pharmaceutical companies with the molecules their drug programs need. Lead optimization analog synthesis is the first service. That work produces variations on a promising molecule for the customer’s scientists to compare as they narrow in on a drug candidate. Data from those physical experiments will train Warp’s artificial intelligence models, with experienced chemists guiding the work as the lab takes on more automation. Robots will learn lab tasks from chemists wearing cameras and sensor gloves, TechCrunch reported.