Proxima, the AI-native biotech company formerly known as VantAI, announced an $80 million oversubscribed seed financing led by DCVC, with participation from NVIDIA’s NVentures, Braidwell, Roivant, and other investors. The company also rebranded to reflect its focus on AI-driven proximity therapeutics.
Proxima develops next-generation medicines that control protein-protein interactions, enabling modalities such as molecular glues and PROTACs to target previously “undruggable” proteins. The funding will accelerate discovery programs in oncology, immunology, and other disease areas, expanding the druggable target space.
The company’s platform combines NeoLink, a proteome-scale structural data generator, with its Neo AI models to enable end-to-end discovery and development of proximity-modulating small molecules. Proxima aims to improve safety, shorten timelines, and create entirely new therapeutic mechanisms.
Proxima has established multibillion-dollar research partnerships with Johnson & Johnson, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Blueprint Medicines, with multiple programs advancing toward clinical trials. The first of these programs is expected to enter clinical testing in 2026. The company’s AI-driven approach to drug discovery aligns with broader industry trends, such as the $1 billion AI co-innovation lab launched by NVIDIA and Eli Lilly to accelerate medicine development through AI, biomedical data, and robotics.
