Singapore’s AI-Powered Biotech Gambit: Nanyang Biologics Races Toward a US$1.5B Nasdaq Debut
Singapore’s biotech scene is heating up—and at the center of the momentum is Nanyang Biologics (NYB), a fast-rising drug-discovery startup claiming to compress a decade of research into mere minutes using AI. Now, the company is preparing for a US$1.5 billion Nasdaq listing via a SPAC deal, marking one of the region’s boldest biotech ambitions.
From Six Years to Six Minutes: AI Takes the Lead
Drug discovery has long been a slow, high-stakes grind—traditionally taking 6–10 years to identify viable therapeutic candidates. NYB says its AI engine flips this paradigm by performing molecular screening in under six minutes.
At the core is an AI system trained on large natural-compound libraries—from medicinal plants, fungi, and tropical botanicals—paired with graph neural networks that predict how molecules interact with biological targets. The result: high-precision predictions at unprecedented speed.
If proven consistently effective, this approach could dramatically reduce R&D cost, boost success rates, and redefine how early-stage drug discovery is done.
A Nasdaq Play Through SPAC
NYB has signed a business combination agreement with RF Acquisition Corp II, a Nasdaq-listed SPAC.
- Valuation: ~US$1.5 billion
- Expected completion: Q2 2026
- Goal: Build a global AI-powered drug-development powerhouse
SPAC listings have cooled globally, but for deep-tech startups, they remain an accessible path to US capital markets—especially for companies still pre-revenue, like NYB.
Tech Partnerships That Power the Vision
Behind NYB’s bold claims is a robust technical backbone. The company is collaborating with:
- NVIDIA — for GPU-accelerated model training
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) — for compute scalability
- Equinix — for high-performance infrastructure deployment
One reported case study highlighted up to a 68% reduction in discovery time and 90% savings in early-stage R&D costs, enabled by the platform’s cloud-AI optimizations.
Why It Matters
For Singapore
NYB strengthens Singapore’s positioning as an Asian hub for AI-first drug discovery—one that blends life sciences, HPC infrastructure, and biotech talent.
For Global Pharma
If NYB’s platform proves reliable, pharmaceutical companies may adopt or license its AI engine to accelerate their own pipelines.
For Investors
The SPAC route gives NYB access to global liquidity but also greater scrutiny. The company is still pre-revenue, with its lead candidates yet to enter clinical trials.
High potential—high uncertainty. Classic biotech.
Meet the Minds Behind the Innovation
Dr. Roland Ong, PhD — Co-Founder & Group Chairman
Dr. Ong is the visionary force behind Nanyang Biologics.
- A technologist with over 20 years of experience in cloud computing, gaming infrastructure, and large-scale distributed systems
- Co-founded the NTU–Nanyang Biologics joint research lab
- Inspired by his family’s experience with medicinal herbs in the NTU Community Herb Garden, which later evolved into NYB’s nature-driven drug-discovery mission
- Advocates for blending traditional herbal knowledge with advanced AI models to uncover novel therapeutics
His mission is deeply personal—and now, potentially transformative on a global scale.
Professor Li Hoi Yeung, PhD — Principal Investigator, NTU–NYB Joint Lab
A respected researcher at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Prof. Li leads NYB’s scientific discovery pipeline.
- Associate Professor, NTU School of Biological Sciences
- Expert in biosensors, molecular biology, and biomedical diagnostics
- Previously developed biosensor systems for mental-health diagnostics
- Co-founded the NYB–NTU lab in 2019, anchoring its R&D and scientific integrity
His academic leadership complements Dr. Ong’s entrepreneurial vision, forming a strong dual-engine behind NYB’s technology.
Glossary
SPAC (Special-Purpose Acquisition Company) A shell company listed on a stock exchange, formed to acquire a private company so it can go public quickly.
Graph Neural Network (GNN) An AI model that interprets data structured as graphs—perfect for analyzing molecular interactions.
Natural Compound Library A database of chemical compounds derived from plants, fungi, and other natural sources used for drug screening.
Preclinical Candidate A molecule identified and tested in lab models before being evaluated in human trials.
Nanyang Biologics is betting on a convergence of nature, AI, and Singapore’s deep-tech ecosystem to redefine drug discovery. The journey from herb garden to Nasdaq listing is unconventional—but it may be exactly the kind of innovation biotech needs.
Source
Tech in Asia — Singapore’s Nanyang Biologics races to Nasdaq with AI edge https://www.techinasia.com/singapores-nanyang-biologics-races-nasdaq-ai-edge
