Exin Therapeutics Inc., a biotech startup that harnesses artificial intelligence (AI) to expedite drug discovery, is planning to invest over ₱1 billion within the next four years as part of its expansion in the Philippines.

In a statement, the Board of Investments (BOI) said it has facilitated the swift entry and commencement of operations of Exin Therapeutics in the country through green lane certification.

Under Executive Order (EO) No. 18, the BOI may certify strategic investments under the green lane program to expedite, streamline, and automate the processing of their permits and licenses.

Strategic investments encompass highly desirable projects, foreign direct investments, and initiatives under the government’s Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP).

BOI Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo said Exin Therapeutics meets this criterion, as its expansion reflects the country’s vision for a “knowledge-based, innovation-driven, and globally competitive economy.”

“It’s not just about attracting foreign investment, it’s about transferring cutting-edge expertise to Filipino scientists, building local capacity, and positioning the Philippines as a leader in advanced biotechnology research," said Rodolfo.

Exin Therapeutics plans to adopt a dual-hub model for its business operations, with Manila serving as the main hub for its wet-lab activities, while its headquarters in San Francisco, California, will handle computational drug discovery and global business development.

The startup is set to start commercial operations this month, according to the BOI.

As part of the first phase of its expansion plan, Exin Therapeutics will invest ₱45 million to build the Philippines' first state-of-the-art neurotherapeutics research facility in Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

The investment will create 35 high-value jobs for Filipino scientists, technicians, and support staff, who will be trained in gene therapy, neuroscience, and AI-driven drug discovery.

The BGC facility will use both AI and advanced gene therapy to design and validate 10 new drug candidates every month.

It is expected to generate 10,000 data points monthly from high-throughput neurophysiology studies and to process 180 drug candidates, producing over 180,000 data points by 2027.

From there, Exin Therapeutics will launch the second phase of its investment plan, which will run until 2029, with ₱1 billion earmarked for the construction of a research complex in Clark, Pampanga.

This facility will scale up the firm’s capacity to 100 drug candidates per month, generating 100,000 data points monthly.

The BOI said this is projected to create over 300 high-value jobs, along with more than 200 indirect employment opportunities.

Exin Therapeutics Chief Scientific Officer Ivan Lazarte said the company chose to invest in the Philippines because of its talented workforce, cost-efficient operations, and rapidly growing economy.

Lazerte is among three Oxford-trained neuroscientists who founded Exin Therapeutics, which has received backing from venture capital firm Y Combinator.

The biotech firm specializes in developing circuit-level genetic therapies for complex brain disorders, including epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and schizophrenia.

By blending neuroscience, genetics, and AI, it aims to revolutionize the understanding and treatment of brain disorders.

The BOI said Exin Therapeutics’ facility in the Philippines would make it the first neurotherapeutics research and development hub in Southeast Asia.

This, it added, would position the country at the forefront of next-generation medical research.