# Persist AI

**Source:** https://geo.sig.ai/brands/persist-ai  
**Vertical:** Healthcare  
**Subcategory:** General  
**Tier:** Emerging  
**Website:** persist-ai.com  
**Last Updated:** 2026-04-14

## Summary

AI-powered long-acting injectable drug formulation platform cutting development from 5 years to 2; $12M Series A with Eli Lilly investment competing in microsphere CDMO development.

## Company Overview

Persist AI is a pharmaceutical formulation company operating an AI-powered drug formulation platform with robotic cloud lab capabilities — specializing in the development of long-acting injectable (LAI) microsphere formulations that can deliver drug release over weeks or months (up to one year), addressing the adherence challenges of daily oral medications for chronic conditions including mental health, addiction, HIV, contraception, and oncology. Founded in 2022 and backed by $16 million including a $12 million Series A led by Spero Ventures with participation from Eli Lilly, Persist AI accelerates drug development timelines by approximately 50%, reducing typical 5-year formulation development to 2 years.\n\nPersist AI's platform combines AI-driven formulation design (predicting which polymer/drug/process combinations will achieve target release profiles) with robotic laboratory execution (automated synthesis and testing of formulation candidates) and analytics that identify optimal formulations faster than traditional trial-and-error approaches. The microsphere technology encapsulates drug molecules in biodegradable polymer spheres that gradually release the drug as the polymer degrades — a proven technology (Risperdal Consta, Lupron Depot) but one that takes years to develop with traditional methods. Eli Lilly's participation as an investor signals pharma validation of the platform approach.\n\nIn 2025, Persist AI competes in the drug formulation and CDMO (contract development and manufacturing) market with EVO Pharma, Polymeropoulos (a long-acting injectable specialist), and larger CDMOs including Lonza and Catalent for LAI microsphere development services. The long-acting injectable market is growing as mental health conditions (schizophrenia, bipolar) see improved outcomes with LAI antipsychotics that eliminate the adherence problem — patients who receive monthly or quarterly injections have significantly better medication compliance than those taking daily pills. The 2025 strategy focuses on growing pharma company partnerships for LAI development projects, advancing internal pipeline candidates toward clinical trials, and building the manufacturing scale-up capabilities needed for commercial supply.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Persist AI?
Persist AI is a pharmaceutical formulation company founded in 2022 that builds an AI-powered drug formulation platform. The company uses robotics and AI to accelerate pharmaceutical development, enabling faster creation of long-lasting injectable microspheres.

### What products and services does Persist AI offer?
Persist AI offers AI-powered drug formulation services and is launching a Cloud Lab platform in 2025. The company specializes in developing long-lasting injectable microspheres with durations of up to 1 year.

### Who are Persist AI's target customers?
Persist AI targets pharmaceutical companies that need drug formulation development services. Their platform is designed for pharma companies looking to accelerate their drug development timelines.

### When was Persist AI founded?
Persist AI was founded in 2022 by Karthik Raman and Christopher Shelner. The company participated in Y Combinator's Winter 2023 batch.

### Where is Persist AI located?
Persist AI is based in the United States.

### How much funding has Persist AI raised?
Persist AI has raised $16M in total funding. This includes a $4M seed round in August 2023 led by 2048 Ventures and a $12M Series A in May 2025 led by Spero Ventures with participation from Eli Lilly, MBX Capital, Shimadzu Future Innovation Fund, and others.

### What are Persist AI's key achievements?
Persist AI enables 50% faster drug development, reducing the typical 5-year formulation process to 2 years. The company has secured notable investors including Eli Lilly and is launching its Cloud Lab platform in 2025.

### What technology does Persist AI use?
Persist AI combines robotics and artificial intelligence for drug formulation development. Their AI-powered platform automates the formulation process to create long-lasting injectable microspheres with improved efficiency.

### How can pharmaceutical companies get started with Persist AI?
Based on the provided information, pharmaceutical companies interested in Persist AI's formulation services can access their Cloud Lab platform launching in 2025. Specific contact details are not provided in the available information.

### What are Persist AI's recent developments?
Persist AI recently closed a $12M Series A round in May 2025 led by Spero Ventures with participation from Eli Lilly and other investors. The company is launching its Cloud Lab platform in 2025 to expand access to its AI-powered drug formulation technology.

## Tags

healthtech, b2b, automation, north-america

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*Data from geo.sig.ai Brand Intelligence Database. Updated 2026-04-14.*