immunitoAI is making waves by harnessing artificial intelligence to redefine therapeutic antibody discovery.
immunitoAI is an C-CAMP National Bio Entrepreneurship Competition 2025 winner.
Founded in 2020 by Dr. Aridni Shah and Trisha Chatterjee, the Bengaluru-based startup is developing novel single-domain antibody (SdAb) drugs for autoimmune diseases and cancer using a proprietary AI platform.
This cutting-edge approach tackles longstanding challenges in drug development, such as high costs, prolonged timelines, and reliance on traditional lab-based methods.
Dr. Aridni Shah, the co-founder and CEO, brings a wealth of expertise to the venture. With a PhD in Biological Sciences from the National Centre for Biological Sciences at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Shah has over a decade of experience in immunoassays, molecular techniques, and data analytics.
Her transition from academia to entrepreneurship was fueled by a passion to merge biological research with technological innovation. Co-founder Trisha Chatterjee, serving as CTO, complements Shah’s biological expertise with deep knowledge in AI and software engineering.
At the heart of immunitoAI’s technology is its AI stack, which generates antibody therapeutics with predefined drug properties without extensive initial wet-lab experimentation.
The platform uses generative AI to design SdAbs—smaller, more stable antibodies derived from camelids—that target specific disease pathways in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and cancers such as breast or lung cancer.
By simulating molecular interactions computationally, immunitoAI accelerates the discovery process, potentially slashing development time from years to months and significantly reducing costs. This approach not only boosts efficiency but also makes advanced therapeutics more accessible, especially in resource-constrained settings like India.
The startup’s impact has been widely recognized. In August 2025, immunitoAI won in the Healthcare/Therapeutics/Drug Discovery category at the C-CAMP National Bio Entrepreneurship Competition (NBEC) 2025, securing a ₹3 lakh cash prize from Anthem Biosciences for its SdAb innovations. This achievement, among nearly 3,100 applications from across India, highlights the platform’s potential for societal impact.
Earlier, in May 2025, the JITO Incubation and Innovation Foundation invested in immunitoAI, commending its deep-tech approach to healthcare challenges. The company has also attracted funding from notable investors, positioning it for growth in the global AI-biotech market.
Shah’s prominence in the industry has grown through high-profile engagements. At Nasscom FutureForge 2025 in August, she discussed AI’s role in making healthcare accessible and affordable, emphasizing collaborations with global pharma partners.
In a Biopharma Conclave session, Shah highlighted how AI-driven antibody drug design overcomes inefficiencies in traditional methods.
ImmunitoAI’s work aligns with global trends in AI-biotech integration. Similar to companies like Absci, which used zero-shot AI for de novo antibody design in 2023, immunitoAI focuses on SdAbs, which offer advantages in tissue penetration and manufacturing ease. In India, where the biotech sector is a key economic driver, such innovations could add significant value, especially amid a surge in generative AI startups.
Looking forward, immunitoAI aims to advance its lead products through discovery phases, with updates expected soon. Shah envisions scaling the platform to address more diseases and forging partnerships with pharma giants. Her goal is to replace parts of traditional biology with math and AI in drug discovery.
