Isomorphic Labs, the AI-first drug discovery company founded on the Nobel-winning AlphaFold breakthrough, has appointed Ben B. Wolf, M.D., Ph.D., as Chief Medical Officer as the company transitions from AI-driven discovery to clinical development. The appointment coincides with the establishment of the company's US operations in Cambridge, Massachusetts, following a $600 million external investment round earlier this year.
Strategic Leadership Addition
Dr. Wolf brings nearly 20 years of biopharmaceutical experience to Isomorphic Labs, with particular expertise in precision oncology and advancing novel therapeutic programs from investigational new drug applications to regulatory approval. His appointment signals the company's commitment to translating its AI-powered drug design capabilities into clinical medicines.
"We're entering a new era for drug discovery in which our next-generation AI drug design engine can unlock deeper scientific insights," said Sir Demis Hassabis, CEO of Isomorphic Labs. "To turn those insights into real breakthroughs we need to translate them into medicines that can transform patient lives. Ben's expertise in advancing clinical programs from early development through registration makes him the ideal person to lead our work in this area."
Proven Track Record in Drug Development
Most recently, Dr. Wolf served as Chief Medical Officer at Relay Therapeutics, where he led clinical trials and advanced multiple molecules into pivotal testing. Prior to this role, he was CMO at KSQ Therapeutics, advancing a CRISPR-based cancer therapeutic pipeline. At Blueprint Medicines, Dr. Wolf led multiple precision medicine programs for kinase inhibitors to successful registration, including Ayvakit™ and Gavreto™.
Dr. Wolf's earlier experience includes clinical and translational roles at Genentech, Amgen, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, and ImmunoGen. He has authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and is an inventor on multiple patents related to drug discoveries.
US Expansion Strategy
The newly established US presence in Kendall Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts, where Dr. Wolf will be based, will serve as a key operational hub. The location leverages the city's biomedical ecosystem while maintaining close collaboration with teams in London and Lausanne.
"Ben's appointment and our newly established US presence exemplifies our commitment to assembling a world-class, interdisciplinary team that combines the best of AI innovation in drug discovery, with proven drug development expertise," said Colin Murdoch, President of Isomorphic Labs.
AI-Driven Drug Discovery Platform
Isomorphic Labs has built what it describes as a world-leading AI drug design engine comprising foundational AI models capable of working across multiple therapeutic areas and drug modalities. The company, together with Google DeepMind, developed and released AlphaFold 3 in May 2024, an AI model that can predict the structure and interactions of biological molecules.
"Isomorphic Labs represents the future of drug discovery and design – one where AI doesn't just accelerate existing processes but fundamentally transforms how we approach some of medicine's greatest challenges," said Dr. Wolf. "It's incredible to see what Isomorphic Labs' unified drug design engine is capable of, enabling the team to cross multiple therapeutic areas and drug modalities, opening up new avenues for treating diseases."
The company was founded in 2021 with a mission to transform drug discovery through artificial intelligence, led by AI pioneer Sir Demis Hassabis. The appointment of Dr. Wolf represents a critical step in the company's evolution from AI research to clinical application, positioning it to advance its computational discoveries into patient treatments.
