About us

Who we are?

Receptor.AI is a TechBio company setting new standards in drug discovery through its multiplatform AI ecosystem.

We build technologies that solve what conventional methods can’t — uncovering hidden binding sites, designing highly selective, orally available small molecules and peptides, and addressing “undruggable” targets with precision and evidence.
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Behind every model stands a team of scientists, engineers, and industry veterans who have spent years advancing real drug discovery programs. Their experience shapes how we design, validate, and measure everything we create.

Our goal is clear: to make the creation of new therapeutics faster, more rational, and transparently grounded in science, so breakthroughs become not a matter of chance, but of design.

Our Timeline

Company Incorporation

Our tech-bio company was founded in Kyiv with a team of 15 experts specializing in medicinal chemistry and AI, aiming to develop a best-in-class AI-driven drug discovery platform.

Q1 2021

Validation of Platform MVP

We completed our first MVP case study, focusing on targeting BRD4 and SIRT1 proteins in collaboration with a leading CRO.

Q3 2021

Leading AI Models for Drug Discovery

We developed the second generation of AI models, including our core semi-ligand-based model, 3DProtDTA, and a Multitask ADMET model with 35 parameters.

Q4 2021

Platform Development

We launched the first version of our SaaS platform, establishing the foundation for scalable drug discovery solutions.

Q2 2022:

Commercial Milestone

We secured our first commercial project, marking a significant milestone in our market entry.

Q3 2022

Relocation of Headquarters

Our headquarters were relocated to London, with key employees and R&D operations moving to Central Europe.

Q3 2022

Lead Optimization Initiatives

We initiated our first lead optimization stage project, further enhancing our track record and expertise.

Q4 2022

Development of Selectivity Platform

We successfully developed our selectivity platform, expanding our capabilities in targeting difficult-to-drug proteins.

Q4 2022

Achieving IND-Stage

We completed our first IND-stage project, focusing on developing lipid formulations for TLR agonists.

Q1 2023

Customer Success and Strategic Partnerships

We entered our first partnership with a mid-sized pharmaceutical company and reached a total of 15 commercial drug discovery projects.

Q3 2023

Best AI docking outperforming AlphaFold

We developed ArtiDock, a best-in-class AI docking model that outperforms all conventional and AI docking techniques, including AlphaFold.

Q4 2023

Partnership with Nvidia and Peptide Drug Discovery

We partnered with Nvidia to enhance our generative AI capabilities and launched our first medium pharma project focused on peptide drug discovery.

Q1 2024

Strategic Big Pharma Partnership

We established a key partnership with a major pharmaceutical company, concentrating on membrane mitochondrial kinases.

Q2 2024

Innovations in PPIs and Induced Proximity

We developed a template-agnostic model for PPI targeting and integrated it into workflows for designing induced proximity compounds.

Q3 2024

Operational Excellence

We initiated 40 drug discovery projects, achieving an 86% success rate for completed projects.

Q3 2024

Headquartering in the US

We expanded into the US market by opening a headquarters

Q3 2024

Expanded Scientific Leadership

Dr. Rajiah Aldrin Denny joined as Chief Scientific Advisor.
Dr. Tomi K. Sawyer joined as Scientific Advisor to guide our peptide therapeutic programs.

Q4 2024

Joined the PDHC

Became a member of the Peptide Drug Hunting Consortium, contributing AI expertise and joining its advisory boards.

Q1 2025

Partnership with ONO Pharma

Launched a joint program with Ono to design novel therapeutics, strengthening our reach in the Japanese pharma market.

Q1 2025

Team Expansion

Grew to 40+ experts across AI, molecular science, and operations.

Q2 2025

Welcomed Nobel Laureate in Chemistry

Dr. Morten P. Meldal joined as scientific advisor and launched peptide optimization project.

Q3 2025

Our team

Dr. Alan Nafiev

Chief Executive Officer,
Founder

Ph.D. in Data Science with deep expertise in AI-driven drug discovery and computational infrastructure. Led 40+ projects from hit discovery to IND, integrating molecular design, R&D planning, and laboratory execution. Brings 15+ years of experience at the intersection of data science, life sciences, and B2B platforms.

Dr. Sergii Starosyla

Chief Technical Officer,
Co-founder

PhD in Molecular Biology with over 15 years of experience in drug discovery and scientific software development. Medicinal chemist, expert in development of machine-learning models, algorithms for pharmacophore modelling and molecular docking. Author of number of patented anticancer and anti-microbic biologically active compounds.

Dr. Semen Yesylevskyy

Chief Scientific Officer, 
Co-founder

PhD in biophysics. 20+ years of experience in molecular modelling, computational drug discovery and scientific software development. Author of unique techniques and algorithms in simulations of curved and asymmetric lipid membranes and assessment of drug-membrane interactions.

Dr. Askar Kuchumov

Head of Business Development

Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with 15+ years of experience in biotech business development and venture capital. Co-founder of several oncology startups, successfully advancing two first-in-class programs from discovery to Phase II clinical trials. Co-author in 20+ peer-reviewed publications, and 2 patent applications.

Dr. Volodymyr Bdzhola

Head of Medicinal Chemistry

PhD in Chemistry with 25 years of research experience, a pivotal member of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, currently serving as a Senior Research Scientist and Deputy Head of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry. Contributed to over 65 scientific publications, showcasing his extensive research in the field.

Dr. Andrew Golub

Head of Computational Chemistry

PhD in Molecular Biology with 20+ years in Industry and Academia, specializing in CADD, computational chemistry, and cheminformatics. Expert in protein structure analysis, drug mechanisms, and therapeutic design. Co-author of multiple scientific papers and patents.

Dr. Yaroslav Bilokin

Head of Chemistry

PhD in Chemistry with 30+ years in medicinal and synthetic organic chemistry. Executive Director at OTAVA Ltd. with numerous patents and peer-reviewed publications. Combines expertise and leadership to tackle complex chemistry problems and lead innovative projects.

Advisory Board

Dr. Rajiah Aldrin Denny

Chief Scientific Advisor

Ph.D in Computational Sciences with 25+ years experience in the industry, including Pfizer and Biogen. Delivered 8 new chemical entities (NCEs) to the clinic/FIH assessment. Worked on over 60+ lead identification & optimization projects covering small molecules, peptides, ADCs, and degraders in a variety of indications.

Dr. Morten P. Meldal

Scientific Advisor

Nobel Laureate in Chemistry 2022 for inventing the click chemistry reaction (CuAAC). PhD in chemical engineering with 40+ years of experience in peptide synthesis and combinatorial chemistry. Professor at the University of Copenhagen, author of over 300 scientific publications and 21 patents in synthetic and molecular chemistry.

Dr. Tomi K. Sawyer

Scientific Advisor: Peptide Drug Discovery

Leading expert in peptide drug discovery with 40 years of experience in pharma and biotech. He contributed to the development of FDA-approved drugs like Scenesse® and Iclusig®. Sawyer has held senior positions at Merck, Pfizer, and Ariad Pharmaceuticals. He is also recognized for over 600 scientific publications and patents in drug discovery.

Dr. Andrew Golub

Scientific Advisor: CADD

Dr. Elisabetta Chiarparin

Scientific Advisor: Drug Discovery

Ph.D. in Chemistry with 20+ years of experience leading drug discovery in oncology, neuroscience, and immunology at Merck, GSK, Astex, and AstraZeneca. An expert in structure-based and AI-guided design, she has advanced multiple preclinical and clinical candidates, including molecular glues and PPI modulators, targeting challenging proteins and novel binding sites.

Jeff O’Meara, MSc

Scientific Advisor: Drug Discovery

With over 25 years in drug discovery, Jeff has led programs across antivirals, oncology, and CNS. His expertise includes medicinal chemistry, targeted degradation, and AI-integrated discovery strategies, with a strong track record of advancing assets into clinical development. He has authored 50+ scientific papers and patents.

Prof. Kevin Burgess

Scientific Advisor: PPI Modulators

Renowned Rachal Professor of Chemistry at Texas A&M, who has made significant contributions to the fields of medicinal and combinatorial chemistry. He applies his expertise in peptido-mimetics, hybrid-peptides and PPI targeting.

Dr. Nicolas Babault

Scientific Advisor: Experimental Biology

PhD in Biophysics & Biochemistry with 15+ years of R&D experience across Industry and Academia, spanning from experimental validation to leadership roles. Extensive expertise in developing and optimizing drug discovery platforms, with deep knowledge in hit discovery and lead optimization for small molecules, peptides, and oligonucleotides.

Prof. Christophe Ramseyer

Scientific Advisor: Membrane Biophysics

PhD, Professor of Physics with 20+ years of experience in quantum chemistry and computational drug design. An expert in simulating interactions of theragnostic nanoparticles with the cell membrane.

Prof. Mikhail Bogdanov

Scientific Advisor: Membrane Molecular Biology

PhD, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at University of Texas Medical School with 30+ years of experience in experimental studies of lipid membranes and membrane proteins. An expert in design and assessment of membrane targeting compounds.