AQEMIA
Revolutionizing drug discovery with quantum-inspired AI technology.. [Contact for Pricing]
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What is AQEMIA?
Aqemia is a deep-tech drug discovery company that reinvents how new medicines are invented by combining physics-based AI with generative AI. Unlike conventional AI platforms that rely on experimental training data from past drugs, Aqemia's proprietary QEMI platform uses atomic-scale physics and deep physics algorithms developed from 12+ years of academic research at Oxford, Cambridge, and ENS/CNRS in Paris. This physics-first approach predicts drug-target affinities atom-by-atom without needing historical data, enabling the design of truly novel molecules for unsolved diseases.
The QEMI platform delivers physics-level accuracy up to 10,000× faster than conventional physics-based methods, not through brute-force computing but through elegant novel mathematics from quantum mechanics. This speed-precision combination enables large-scale exploration of chemical space, allowing Aqemia to screen billions of molecules computationally compared to hundreds for competitors. The platform supports both broad exploration across multiple targets and indication-first
AQEMIA pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
Aqemia does not offer public pricing, free tiers, or self-service plans. The company operates as a B2B drug discovery partner providing services through research collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Notable partnerships include a multi-year Sanofi collaboration valued at up to $140M (€150M) covering multiple therapeutic areas, plus collaborations with Johnson & Johnson, Servier, and Roche. Programs include wholly owned internally developed candidates and partnered programs where pharma partners nominate targets. The company has raised $60M in Series A funding from Elaia Partners, Eurazeo, Bpiformy Large Venture, and Wendel to develop its platform and drug pipeline.
AQEMIA pros
- 10,000× faster predictions than conventional physics-based methods
- No experimental training data required for drug discovery
- Generates truly novel molecules beyond existing chemical libraries
- Screens billions of molecules computationally vs hundreds for competitors
- Physics-level accuracy at atomic scale for drug-target interactions
- Frugal computing - not compute-intensive like brute-force methods
- Proven academic foundation with 40+ peer-reviewed publications
- Multiple Big Pharma partnerships including Sanofi $140M deal
- Three preclinical assets showing superior efficacy in animal models
- Moonshot strategy runs 20 parallel programs per indication
- Reduces discovery/preclinical timeline from 5-6 years to under 2 years
- Unbiased exploration of vast chemical space free from data bias
- Continuously learns and evolves from every drug discovery program
- Addresses selectivity challenges enabling wide therapeutic windows
- Scalable engine capable of advancing dozens of drug candidates
- Focus on highest unmet medical needs including pancreatic cancer
- Part of French Tech 120 and France 2030 initiatives
- $60M Series A funding from top European deeptech investors
AQEMIA cons
- No public pricing or free tier available for individual researchers
- Not available as standalone software - only through partnerships
- No own wetlab facilities - depends on CRO partners for execution
- Still building pipeline - only 3 preclinical assets to date
- Targeting extremely difficult diseases with high failure rates
- Moonshot approach requires running many parallel programs for success
- Limited public information on platform access for external users
- Early-stage company - no approved drugs yet on market
- Primarily focused on small molecules, limited RNA/flexible protein work
- Geographic concentration in Paris with limited global presence
Frequently asked questions about AQEMIA
What makes Aqemia different from other AI drug discovery companies?
Aqemia uses a physics-first approach that eliminates the need for experimental training data. While most AI platforms learn patterns from past drugs and struggle to create medicines for new targets, Aqemia's proprietary deep physics algorithms predict interactions between future drugs and targets atom-by-atom using quantum mechanics. This enables truly novel molecule design unafraid of unknown chemical space and free from bias of existing data.
What is QEMI and how fast is it?
QEMI is Aqemia's platform that fuses fast physics with generative AI. It delivers predictions with physics-level accuracy up to 10,000× faster than conventional physics-based methods. This speed comes not from brute-force computing power but from elegant novel mathematics from quantum mechanics developed over 12 years of academic research at Oxford, Cambridge, and ENS/CNRS in Paris.
What therapeutic areas does Aqemia focus on?
Aqemia focuses on diseases with high unmet medical need, particularly in oncology and immuno-oncology. Their portfolio includes work on pancreatic cancer (one of the deadliest solid tumors with 90%+ attrition rate), CNS disorders, immunology, and inflammation. They use a moonshot strategy running multiple parallel programs against single indications to tackle hardest-to-treat diseases.
How does Aqemia's moonshot strategy work?
Instead of advancing one candidate and hoping it survives clinical development, Aqemia runs multiple parallel programs against a single indication. For pancreatic cancer, they mapped roughly 20 distinct research programs targeting the disease through different biological strategies, with 5 programs underway. Even if each shot has low probability of success (a few percent), running 20 in parallel statistically increases chances of success.
Does Aqemia have its own laboratory?
No, Aqemia does not operate its own wetlab facilities. The company partners with world-class CROs (Contract Research Organizations) to ensure flawless execution of experimental work. This allows them to scale drug discovery in a frugal and efficient way while focusing their expertise on physics-based computational drug discovery.
What is Aqemia's academic background?
Aqemia originates from over 12 years of academic research in theoretical physics conducted at CNRS, Ecole Normale Supérieure, and the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. This work led to a breakthrough recognized by the American Institute of Physics and resulted in more than 40 peer-reviewed publications. CEO Maximilien Levesque solved the Molecular Ornstein-Zernike equation that had stumped researchers for 40 years, winning a prestigious physics prize in 2017.
What partnerships has Aqemia secured?
Aqemia has forged collaborations with major pharmaceutical companies including Sanofi (multi-year partnership valued at up to $140M/€150M spanning multiple therapeutic areas including CNS), Johnson & Johnson, Servier, and Roche. In these partnerships, pharma companies nominate targets since they know the biology and disease, while Aqemia uses its platform to design novel drug molecules.
How many drug candidates has Aqemia developed?
Aqemia has three preclinical assets that have already demonstrated superior efficacy and non-toxicity in vivo. The company has five pancreatic cancer programs underway spanning hit optimization, early lead, and late lead optimization stages, with several progressing to animal-model efficacy studies. Their goal is to advance at least one internal program into the clinic within 12 months and scale to dozens of wholly or partly owned drug candidates.
Can individuals or small companies access Aqemia's platform?
No, Aqemia does not offer public access to its QEMI platform. The company operates as a B2B drug discovery partner working with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies through research collaborations. There is no free tier, self-service plan, or public pricing available. Access is through partnership agreements where pharma partners nominate targets for drug discovery programs.
How much funding has Aqemia raised?
Aqemia raised $60M (€30M extension to Series A) in all-equity funding from European tech/deeptech funds including Elaia Partners (French leader deeptech VC), Eurazeo (largest European investment fund), Bpifrance Large Venture (largest French fund), and Wendel (PE tech fund). The company also received a $7.4M grant to enhance its platform's capability to work with highly flexible proteins and RNA targets. Aqemia is part of French Tech 120 and France 2030 initiatives.