BIO 2025: Massive Virtual Cell Data Sets and AI-Designed de Novo Proteins

BIO 2025 Kicks Off: Virtual Cells, AI-Designed Proteins, and Industry Shifts

BIO 2025 has officially begun. Editors from GEN (Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News) reflect on the scale and energy of the bustling exhibition hall and share their expectations for upcoming talks and panel discussions.

Among the early headlines is Eli Lilly’s acquisition of biotech firm Verve Therapeutics — a move that sparked conversations around the role of industry-funded therapeutic development in a climate marked by cautious investor sentiment and public scrutiny.

AI in Focus: Virtual Cells and de Novo Protein Design

In the realm of artificial intelligence, Xaira Therapeutics, a $1 billion-backed drug discovery unicorn, marked the end of its first year by releasing the largest open-access Perturb-seq dataset as part of its “virtual cell” initiative. This data set is expected to accelerate AI-driven cellular modeling and drug discovery.

Meanwhile, AlphaDesign, a new AI-powered platform, is transforming the field of protein engineering. The platform enables rapid generation of functional de novo proteins, bringing protein design closer to the future of personalized therapeutics and precision medicine.

BIO 2025 is shaping up to highlight the convergence of biotech innovation, AI breakthroughs, and strategic industry consolidation — setting the tone for the next wave of transformative therapies.