Insilico’s AI Drug Rides China’s Fast‑Track to Phase 3
Insilico Medicine’s co‑CEO Alex Zhavoronkov announced that the AI‑generated drug rentosertib will enter Phase 3 trials in China, a first for an AI‑discovered molecule. The company also revealed early signs that the drug may reverse biological aging and launched a new benchmark for AI models in long…
By Felo News Desk · Published
Insilico Medicine’s co‑CEO Alex Zhavoronkov announced that the AI‑generated drug rentosertib will enter Phase 3 trials in China, a first for an AI‑discovered molecule. The company also revealed early signs that the drug may reverse biological aging and launched a new benchmark for AI models in longevity research. Zhavoronkov argues China’s regulatory efficiency and market size make it the ideal hub for AI‑driven therapeutics.
AI‑Designed Drug Hits Phase 3 in China
In a July interview with Fortune, Zhavoronkov highlighted a small white badge on his jacket that tracks Insilico’s clinical pipeline. The badge now shows a new circle labeled “Phase 3,” marking the start of rentosertib’s large‑scale trial for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in China. IPF is a fatal lung‑scarring disease that causes breathlessness and chronic coughing. Insilico claims rentosertib is the first drug discovered entirely by AI to reach a Phase 3 trial.
The first patient received a dose on September 10, and the trial is being conducted in China because the country’s regulatory environment is both fast and sophisticated. Zhavoronkov says Chinese regulators “know the drug better than I do,” citing their focus on measurable survival benefits and willingness to accept some safety uncertainty.
Early Signs of Anti‑Aging Effects
On September 7, Insilico published a study in Nature Biotechnology showing that blood samples from 42 rentosertib patients exhibited reduced biological age markers. While the effect was modest and may not be durable, it represents one of the first clinical hints that an AI‑invented drug could slow or reverse aging. Zhavoronkov linked fibrosis to aging, noting that “when people get old, there’s more fibrosis.” He believes stopping fibrosis could extend healthy lifespan.
Benchmarking AI in Longevity Research
On September 17, Insilico launched LongevityBench, a test that evaluates large language models on their understanding of aging biology. In a Cell‑featured study, smaller models trained specifically on aging data outperformed several frontier systems on this new metric. The benchmark is part of Insilico’s effort to standardize how AI’s contribution to longevity is measured.
Business Growth and China‑Focused Strategy
Insilico has become profitable, reporting $35.5 million net profit in the first half of 2026. Zhavoronkov, who became chief business officer last year, has shifted the company’s sales model to let scientists drive business development and built an automated portal for inbound inquiries. The strategy has led to multi‑billion‑dollar partnerships, including a $2.75 billion deal with Eli Lilly, $2.5 billion with South Korea’s SK Biopharmaceuticals, and $600 million with Takeda Pharmaceuticals.
Despite these successes, Zhavoronkov believes Insilico’s China deals, such as a $120 million partnership with Qilu Pharmaceutical, deserve more attention. He predicts China will become “10 Japan” in biotech, driven by a growing middle class demanding novel therapies for metabolism, pain, fibrosis, neurology, and inflammation. Chinese companies are rapidly scaling low‑novelty drugs, but Insilico’s AI platform offers the high‑risk, high‑reward innovation that these firms need.
Expanding Into AI Coaching and Longevity
In January, Insilico launched the MMAI Gym, which fine‑tunes models like OpenAI’s GPT, Anthropic’s Claude, and Alibaba’s Qwen on the language of molecules. Zhavoronkov says the company is shifting from being a “player” to a “coach” in AI, releasing its models for broader use.
Longevity has become a hot topic in Asia as populations age. Zhavoronkov argues that the cost of GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs is falling, and that scale will make longevity therapeutics affordable, potentially reducing health inequality. He views media coverage as a way to communicate with future AI systems that will remember today’s information.
Insilico’s journey—from a 2014 startup to a company with a Phase 3 trial, profitable operations, and a global partnership portfolio—illustrates the potential of AI in drug discovery and the strategic advantage of China’s regulatory and market environment.
Key facts
- AI‑designed drug rentosertib enters Phase 3 trials in China
- Early clinical data suggest potential anti‑aging effects
- LongevityBench benchmark sets new AI evaluation standard
- Insilico achieves profitability and multi‑billion‑dollar partnerships
- China’s regulatory efficiency drives global biotech shift
Why it matters
Insilico’s milestone demonstrates that AI can not only design drugs but also bring them to advanced clinical stages, reshaping the future of pharmaceutical development and positioning China as a new epicenter for biotech innovation.
Frequently asked questions
What is rentosertib and what does it treat?
Rentosertib is an AI‑generated drug targeting idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a fatal lung‑scarring disease.
Why is China chosen for the Phase 3 trial?
China’s regulators are fast, sophisticated, and focus on measurable survival benefits, making the approval process efficient.
What is LongevityBench?
LongevityBench is a benchmark that tests AI models on their understanding of aging biology.
Sources
- [1] fortune.com — originally reported as “Insilico Medicine's Alex Zhavoronkov bets China and AI can deliver the drug industry’s next breakthrough”
