Subvolts take AI agents can speed up biotech research and drug discovery, fixing a slow and costly process. Nov 13, 2025 - Developers
- Learn how AI agents are being applied to complex scientific problems, potentially creating new tool development opportunities.
- Business
- Understand how AI can streamline R&D processes, reduce costs, and accelerate innovation in the biotech sector.
This episode features the CEO of a key biotech R&D platform discussing AI's impact on a critical scientific field.
How AI Will Accelerate Breakthroughs in Biotechnology with Benchling CEO Sajith Wickramasekara
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From Subvolts
Summary and analysis by Subvolts editorial, AI-assisted.
This podcast episode features Sarah Guo and Elad Gil interviewing Sajith Wickramasekara, CEO of Benchling. They discuss how AI agents and simulation can accelerate drug development, address roadblocks in the biotech R&D process, and explore China's role in the pharma industry. The conversation also touches on building interdisciplinary cultures merging science and software.
Imagine trying to invent new medicines. It takes forever and most ideas don't work. This episode talks about how smart computer programs, like AI helpers, can help scientists test ideas much faster. This could lead to new treatments sooner for everyone.
This episode offers insights into the practical application of AI in biotechnology, a field ripe for disruption. Listeners will learn about the challenges in drug discovery and how tools like Benchling's AI agents can speed up experimentation and potentially reduce costs. It's for biotech professionals, AI researchers, and investors interested in the intersection of these fields. This aligns with frontier labs' efforts to leverage AI for scientific discovery and complex problem-solving.
- HostSarah Guo
- HostElad Gil
- GuestSajith WickramasekaraCEO, Benchling
- Guest: Sajith Wickramasekara, CEO of Benchling
- Show: No Priors
- Length: 48 minutes
- Topic: AI's role in accelerating biotechnology breakthroughs
- Benchling's role: Central system of record for biotech R&D, uses AI agents
Bringing new drugs to market is a costly, time-consuming endeavor. On top of that, most medicines fail at some point in the research and development phase. Sarah Guo is joined by Sajith Wickramasekara, co-founder and CEO of Benchling, a company that has not only become the central system of record for biotech R&D, but uses AI agents to assist scientists to help fix this broken system. Sajith details the roadblocks that impede drug development and approval, the “dot com” bust occurring in biotech, and how AI agents and simulation can help scientists experiment faster. Plus, they talk about China’s competitive rise in the pharma space, and the unique challenges of building an interdisciplinary culture that merges the worlds of science and software.
Rebuild biotech for the AI era - Sajith Wickramasekara
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Chapters:
00:00 – Sajith Wickramasekara Introduction
00:38 – Origin and Mission of Benchling
02:08 – The Drug Development Process
03:49 – Current State of the Biotech industry
08:46 – AI’s Role in Biotech
16:14 – Benchling AI and Its Impact
18:36 – The Future of AI in Biotech
26:28 – Debunking AI Drug Discovery Myths
28:50 – Data’s Role in Biotech
29:35 – The Importance of Tools in Pharma
31:28 – AI’s Impact on Scientific Research
34:55 – Building a Biotech Company
40:18 – Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Biotech
43:06 – Tech and Biotech: Learning from Each Other
48:16 – Conclusion
- R&D
- Sajith Wickramasekara
- Research and Development
39 min1 h 1136 minQuestions people ask
- What is Benchling?
- Benchling is a company that provides the central system of record for biotech R&D and uses AI agents to assist scientists.
- How can AI help in biotechnology?
- AI agents and simulation can help scientists experiment faster, potentially fixing the broken system of drug development and approval.
Page generated Oct 19, 2026. Summaries are Subvolts' own; the audio, artwork and notes belong to Conviction.