Verge Genomics rebranded as Verge Labs after an early clinical trial of AI-designed VRG50635 for ALS failed to show benefit. The company said it laid off about 90% of its workforce before shifting focus from building drugs directly to providing data for drug developers, including target identification, patient prediction, and biomarker discovery. In its prior approach, Verge tested hypotheses around PIKfyve inhibition and measured neurofilament light chain levels, which increased in a way the company said suggested the program did not hit its intended target engagement or mechanism outcome. In response, leadership described the failure as an input for iterative platform improvement. The pivot reflects a broader recalibration across AI drug discovery: when clinical validation lags, companies increasingly monetize datasets and infrastructure to remain relevant to partners and sponsors.