Lila Sciences secured $235 million in Series A funding to scale its AI-driven drug discovery platform combining generative AI, robotics, and automation to accelerate scientific experiments and reduce drug development timelines. Concurrently, Variational AI inked a $349 million deal with Merck to apply its generative AI platform Enki for optimizing novel small molecule candidates targeting multiple undisclosed therapeutics. These investments highlight growing confidence in AI-powered platforms to transform pharmaceutical R&D efficiency and innovation.