The biopharma startup Synfini today announced securing an $8.9 million extension round led by JSL Health Capital, bringing its total funding to $53 million. The company specializes in merging neuro-symbolic AI with both physical and virtual chemistry. Its platform integrates proprietary chemical datasets and robotic automation to assist pharmaceutical researchers in developing novel molecular compounds as drug candidates. Its flagship AI Cloud Forge platform accelerates the discovery and synthesis of small molecules by combining physical and virtual chemistry processes within a unified workflow. This integration significantly reduces the cost of creating promising new compounds. Synfini claims its technology eliminates traditional bottlenecks in drug discovery by streamlining target selection, compound design, and synthesis. This is achieved through a flexible, highly integrated workflow that replaces conventional chemical methods. The platform generates and optimizes innovative compounds with desired properties, then leverages AI and chemist-designed features to expedite molecule planning and synthesis. Spun out from SRI International in September 2023, Synfini originated as an internal project at the Silicon Valley research institute, partially funded by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). As a 75-year-old institute conducting classified research for U.S. government agencies, SRI has long held influence in Silicon Valley, maintaining close ties with top venture capital firms and tech giants. It pioneered the ARPANET network, the precursor to the public internet, and played key roles in advancing wireless networks, ultrasound, and foundational technologies now used in robotics, satellites, medical devices, and drug discovery. Since its spinout, Synfini has validated its drug discovery approach through commercial and strategic partnerships. CEO Doug Donzelli stated the latest funding will scale these initiatives and expand operations. "We're building the next-generation drug discovery infrastructure," Donzelli said. "This capital accelerates our ability to scale the platform and deepen collaborations with biotech innovators and major pharmaceutical companies." JSL Health joined early-stage investors including SRI Ventures, WERU Investments, Ferocity Ventures, and others in supporting Synfini. JSL managing partner Lekan Wang highlighted the startup's exceptional maturity for its stage, crediting SRI's years of research. He noted the founders created a fully functional drug chemistry AI platform reducing molecular iteration cycles from months to days. "Synfini's chemical operating system encompasses project planning, property prediction, reaction pathways, and synthesis—customized for chemists and biologists," Wang explained. "This represents true American innovation, promising to accelerate the drug pipeline from hits to human trials." The company plans to expand its workforce, adding scientific and engineering roles, while growing partnerships in GPCR-targeted therapies and precision oncology.