CAMBRIDGE, Mass., February 12, 2026 - Insilico Medicine (3696.HK), a clinical-stage, generative AI-driven drug discovery company, today announced the launch of a new interactive webpage highlighting the Rentosertib story as featured in a recent Harvard Business School case study, providing a practical, public-facing overview of how AI can be applied across the drug discovery process.
The Harvard Business School case, Insilico’s Rentosertib Dilemma: A Star in the Pipeline? , examines the development of Insilico’s lead asset, Rentosertib, which completed a Phase IIa clinical evaluation for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The case describes Rentosertib as the world’s first drug with both an AI-discovered target and an AI-designed molecular structure to enter Phase II human clinical trials, and uses that milestone to explore the real tradeoffs biotechs, and specifically AI-native biotech companies confront as programs move from discovery into clinical development.
Beyond the Rentosertib story, the case is written to help readers understand the broader history of Insilico Medicine as well as the rapidly innovating industry of AI-powered drug discovery. The case contextualizes the standard stages of drug development, and the cost, timelines, and attrition that shape how companies finance and manage pipelines. It also highlights how licensing agreements typically work, why many biotech companies partner with larger pharmaceutical organizations for later-stage trials and commercialization, and how emerging AI-focused companies seek to improve the speed and efficiency of early R&D while demonstrating “real-world” validation as assets reach the clinic.
“We are pleased to see Harvard Business School publish one of the first case studies that demystifies the drug discovery and development process while spotlighting a core decision many biotech companies face, whether to license or continue developing a promising asset,” said Alex Zhavoronkov, PhD, Founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine. “We created this resource to help a broader audience build a foundational understanding of the end-to-end workflow and the role AI can play at every step.”
Insilico’s webpage is intended to make the story easier to engage with for a broad audience, including students, operators, and biopharma teams. Despite the growing importance of AI in biotech, there are still few accessible resources built for business audiences that clearly explain the fundamentals of drug discovery, development, and the strategic tradeoffs biotech leaders face.
Structured as an “AI-Powered Drug Discovery Crash Course,” it breaks the case into a set of short modules that introduces the industry context behind the drug development efficiency challenge and the rise of AI in science, deconstructs how an AI platform can contribute across the discovery and development workflow, and walks through the Rentosertib story and the strategic questions the case is designed to provoke.
The case itself was authored by Michael Lingzhi Li PhD , Assistant Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. On October 23, 2025, CEO & Founder, Alex Zhavoronkov PhD, together with senior business development leaders Suguna Rachakonda PhD and Thomas Leichner, presented the case to students from Harvard Business School’s Technology and Operations Management course.
Harnessing state-of-the-art AI and automation technologies, Insilico has significantly improved the efficiency of preclinical drug development, setting a benchmark for AI-driven drug R&D. While traditional early-stage drug discovery typically requires an average of 4.5 years, Insilico has nominated 20 preclinical candidates from 2021 to 2024, with an average timeline—from project initiation to preclinical candidate (PCC) nomination—of just 12 to 18 months per program, with only 60 to 200 molecules synthesized and tested in each program.
The case is published by Harvard Business Publishing and was developed solely as a basis for classroom discussion. It is not intended to serve as an endorsement, a source of primary data, or an illustration of effective or ineffective management. Insilico’s webpage is an Insilico-authored companion intended to support learning and public understanding of the themes raised in the case and does not imply endorsement by Harvard University, Harvard Business School, or the case author.
About Insilico Medicine
Insilico Medicine is a pioneering global biotechnology company dedicated to integrating artificial intelligence and automation technologies to accelerate drug discovery, drive innovation in the life sciences, and extend healthy longevity to people on the planet. The company was listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on December 30, 2025, under the stock code 03696.HK.
By integrating AI and automation technologies and deep in-house drug discovery capabilities, Insilico is delivering innovative drug solutions for unmet needs including fibrosis, oncology, immunology, pain, and obesity and metabolic disorders. Additionally, Insilico extends the reach of Pharma.AI across diverse industries, such as advanced materials, agriculture, nutritional products and veterinary medicine. For more information, please visit www.insilico.com