AI business Recursion Pharmaceuticals has narrowed its drug development pipeline, ending or pausing five programmes as it seeks to reduce costs and reprioritise resources following a merger with fellow AI biotech Exscientia last year.

The company's Q1 2025 earnings report revealed plans to cut three clinical programmes, pause one clinical candidate and cut a preclinical effort. Shares in Recursion fell by 13.4% on 5 May, dropping from $5.49 at market open to $4.76 at close following the pipeline restructuring announcement. The terminated programmes include REC-2282, REC-994, and REC-3964.

REC-2282 and REC-994 were in development for rare neurological disorders – neurofibromatosis type 2 and cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM), respectively. According to Recursion, accumulated data from both trials did not justify continued investment. The company formally stated that the “totality” of the results supported ending development altogether.

REC-994 had reached Phase II testing in CCM. Data from the 62-patient trial (NCT05085561) was announced in September 2024, with a follow-up in February 2025. The trial showed comparable safety and tolerability to placebo over 12 months and met its primary endpoint, but did not demonstrate meaningful clinical benefits. MRI scans suggested a trend toward reduced lesion volume at the higher dose of 400mg, but no improvements were observed in patient-reported outcomes or functional assessments. Follow-up data, including a long-term extension phase, failed to confirm earlier signals of efficacy.

Recursion is not fully discontinuing its REC-3964 programme – aimed at treating C difficile infection – but is instead exploring potential out-licensing opportunities. The company cited a shift in the treatment landscape and internal reprioritisation as reasons for reconsidering further development. In addition to these terminations, Recursion is pausing development of REC-4539, a clinical-stage oncology candidate. A preclinical programme in an undisclosed indication is also being discontinued.

These changes leave Recursion with six active development programmes. Four of which are in oncology while two target rare diseases. None are currently in late-stage trials.

“The data is going to be ultimately what drives what the balance of the portfolio looks like, but I do not see us abandoning either oncology or rare disease in the near term,” said Recursion CEO Chris Gibson in a 5 May earnings call to investors.

The pipeline restructuring follows a period of strategic realignment after Recursion’s merger with Exscientia. Najat Khan, who serves as both chief R&D officer and chief commercial officer, said the company is making “deliberate tradeoffs” to focus on areas of high unmet need and the greatest potential impact.

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Recursion ended Q1 2025 with $509m in cash and equivalents. The company said it expects to limit 2025 cash burn to under $450m and projects that its financial runway will extend into mid-2027. Key upcoming milestones include early-stage data readouts in H2 2025 from a CDK7 inhibitor programme acquired through Exscientia and REC-4881, an in-licensed rare disease asset from Takeda.

While AI has yet to deliver a late-stage success at Recursion, the approach continues to attract major investment across the sector. Recursion is one of several AI-focused firms to secure high-value partnerships, including a $1.5bn deal with Bayer. Additional deals include the $2.76bn deal between Novo Nordisk and Valo Health, and the $1.75bn agreement between Eli Lilly and Isomorphic Labs.

"Recursion axes drug programmes to streamline pipeline " was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.

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