Revolutionizing Therapeutics Through AI-Driven Science

Centella AI represents the next wave of progress in India’s healthcare sector, leading a new era of AI-driven drug discovery.  Founded by practicing scientists, Centella’s mission is to accelerate the journey from molecule to medicine by combining deep scientific expertise with generative intelligence.

Built on Microsoft Azure, Centella’s flagship platform, CASCADE, is a multi-agent orchestrated, disease-agnostic engine which unifies generative molecular design, synthesis planning, structure-based modeling, and predictive analytics to empower biotech, academic and pharma teams to discover high-quality drug candidates faster and more efficiently. The platform streamlines the traditionally slow discovery process enabling end-to-end workflows for hit identification, lead optimization, and property prediction while ensuring scalability, transparency, and responsible AI adoption.

Centella’s human-in-the-loop approach keeps researchers at the center of every decision, ensuring that AI complements rather than replaces scientific reasoning. This balance between automation and human insight enhances precision, reduces time-to-market, and strengthens collaboration across discovery teams.

The company’s impact is already evident across its early programs. Using CASCADE, Centella achieved 3–5 fold higher hit rates and over 50% reduction in discovery timelines and costs compared to traditional methods. In one kinase-focused study, 3,000 AI-generated designs led to 36 synthesized compounds and 4 potent hits, including a lead molecule with IC₅₀ = 7 nM. In another program targeting autoimmune disorders, AI-guided allosteric modulators achieved submicromolar potency, underscoring the platform’s versatility and predictive strength.

Backed by D-Labs (ISB Hyderabad), MeitY (Govt. of India), and U.S.-based angel investors, and supported through incubation at NASSCOM’s GenAI Foundry and AIC-CCMB, Centella continues to expand its partnerships with universities and biotech innovators globally.

By fusing AI-driven design with human scientific expertise, Centella is redefining how modern therapeutics are discovered making the process faster, smarter, and more accessible for the next generation of life-saving medicines.

“At Centella, we envision a future where AI transforms drug discovery from an uncertain, decade-long process into a precise, intelligent, and rapid science. By uniting generative AI with chemistry and molecular biology, we’re not just accelerating innovation, we’re redefining what’s possible in human health.”

Dr. Riyaz Syed
Founder and Chief Executive Officer