# Verge Genomics

> Verge Genomics is a South San Francisco biotech that builds drugs from human biology instead of mouse models. By assembling one of the largest proprietary multi-omics datasets drawn directly from human brain and tissue samples, then mining it with machine learning, its CONVERGE platform identifies disease targets and drug candidates for neurodegenerative diseases like ALS, ALS-FTD and Parkinson's. Founded in 2015 by Alice Zhang and Jason Chen, the company famously moved its first AI-discovered drug from research to the clinic in four years. After that ALS candidate failed its early trial, Verge has refocused on its core asset, the platform, repositioning to supply other drug developers with human-grounded target data.

- **Founded:** 2015
- **Headquarters:** South San Francisco, California, United States
- **Founders:** Alice Zhang (Co-founder & CEO), Jason Chen (Co-founder (now advisor))
- **Team size:** Roughly 26 employees (significantly reduced after a ~90% layoff during the 2025 refocus)
- **Products:** CONVERGE platform, VRG50635, Human multi-omics dataset / target data (Verge Labs)
- **Notable:** Moved its first AI-discovered drug candidate (VRG50635) from research into human clinical trials in roughly four years., Built one of the largest proprietary multi-omics datasets derived directly from human brain and tissue., Named to the Fierce 15 list of biotech companies in 2022.

## Products & services

- **CONVERGE platform** — An all-in-human, AI-powered drug discovery platform built on one of the world's largest proprietary multi-omics datasets drawn directly from human tissue. It maps the molecular causes of disease and predicts drug targets and candidates.
- **VRG50635** — A small-molecule PIKfyve inhibitor for ALS, discovered by CONVERGE and the first AI-discovered Verge candidate to reach the clinic (moved from research to clinic in roughly four years). It failed to show benefit in its early proof-of-concept trial, after which Verge dropped it.
- **Human multi-omics dataset / target data (Verge Labs)** — Following a 2025 refocus, Verge provides drug developers with platform-derived target identification data built from a proprietary multi-modal molecular and clinical dataset derived from patient tissue.

## Achievements

- Moved its first AI-discovered drug candidate (VRG50635) from research into human clinical trials in roughly four years.
- Built one of the largest proprietary multi-omics datasets derived directly from human brain and tissue.
- Named to the Fierce 15 list of biotech companies in 2022.
- Secured an oversubscribed $98M Series B led by BlackRock with Eli Lilly and Merck participating.
- Signed an ALS drug-discovery collaboration with Eli Lilly worth up to ~$719M including upfront and milestones.

## Latest updates

- **2025-01** — VRG50635 failed to benefit patients in its early-stage ALS trial; neurofilament light chain levels rose rather than fell, signaling the drug was not having its intended effect.
- **2025-01** — Verge dropped its sole clinical candidate and refocused entirely on its AI platform, rebranding toward Verge Labs and laying off roughly 90% of staff to pursue a data/partner model.

## Links

- Website: https://vergegenomics.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/verge-genomics
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/vergegenomics

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/verge-genomics
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-10