Persist AI Welcomes Dr. Amjad Basha Mohammad and Dr. Ramesh Rachapudi to Expand Computational Modeling and Product Development Capabilities

We're excited to continue advancing as an AI-driven pharmaceutical development pioneer by strengthening our computational modeling and product development capabilities. We are pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Amjad Basha Mohammad as Head of Advanced Manufacturing and Dr. Ramesh Rachapudi as Vice President of Business Development, two distinguished professionals who will accelerate our mission to transform drug product development through intelligent automation and predictive modeling.

Integrating Computational Chemistry with AI-Driven Drug Development

Our approach to pharmaceutical innovation begins with computational chemistry as the foundation for our AI models. By leveraging first-principles molecular modeling, we can predict drug behavior, formulation stability, and manufacturing outcomes before committing resources to physical experimentation.

This computational framework feeds directly into our machine learning algorithms, creating increasingly sophisticated predictive models that guide formulation decisions with unprecedented accuracy.

The integration of quantum mechanical calculations, molecular dynamics simulations, and thermodynamic modeling provides our AI systems with fundamental understanding of drug-excipient interactions, solubility parameters, and stability profiles. This scientific rigor ensures our AI models are grounded in established chemical principles rather than purely empirical correlations.

Enhancing AI Models Through Intelligent Laboratory Operations

Our laboratory operates on a continuous design-build-test-analyze-learn (DBTAL) loop that generates high-quality experimental data to refine our computational predictions. This autonomous cycle begins with computational design of experiments, proceeds through robotic synthesis and testing, analyzes results through AI-driven analytics, and learns to improve future experimental design.

The DBTAL framework creates a powerful synergy between automated experimentation and first-principles modeling. When our robotic systems conduct formulation experiments, the resulting data validates and improves our computational models, while the computational predictions guide more efficient experimental design for the next iteration.

This approach reduces the dimensionality of experimental space, allowing our robotic systems to focus on the most promising formulation parameters identified through machine learning. The result is faster development cycles and higher success rates in formulation optimization.

Expanding Our Dataset Through Continuous Innovation

Persist AI's robotic laboratory operates continuously to expand our proprietary dataset across multiple pharmaceutical modalities. Our automated systems conduct comprehensive studies in:

Long-Acting Injectables: Optimizing polymer matrices, drug release kinetics, and injection site compatibility through systematic formulation screening and stability testing.

Cosmetics and Topical Formulations: Characterizing penetration enhancers, rheological properties, and dermal bioavailability across diverse formulation architectures.

Oral Solid Dosage Forms: Investigating tablet and capsule formulations with focus on dissolution profiles, bioavailability enhancement, and manufacturing scalability.

Sterile Injectable Products: Developing monoclonal antibody formulations and other biologics with emphasis on protein stability, aggregation prevention, and shelf-life optimization.

Each experimental campaign contributes to our growing knowledge base, improving our AI models' ability to predict formulation success across these therapeutic areas.

Welcome to Our Newest Team Members

Dr. Amjad Basha Mohammad

Head of Advanced Manufacturing

Dr. Mohammad brings over two decades of modeling and simulation expertise to lead our advanced manufacturing initiatives. With a PhD in Computational Chemistry from the Technical University of Munich, he has established himself as a pioneer in applying modeling to industrial-scale manufacturing challenges.

His experience spans pharmaceutical giants including Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, where he spent 12 years developing differentiated formulations, speeding up R&D with digital twin frameworks, and predictive physics-based models for manufacturing optimization. At GE Silicones, he advanced hydrosilylation chemistry through catalyst design and mechanistic modeling. His tenure at Procter & Gamble involved developing performance-optimized formulations for major consumer brands through computational approaches.

At Persist AI, Dr. Mohammad will implement our in silico derisking strategy, ensuring all product development and formulation projects begin with comprehensive computational analysis before progressing to wet lab validation. His leadership will establish Persist as the industry standard for model-driven pharmaceutical development.

Key Initiatives:

• Minimizing physical experimentation with first-principles modeling of formulations

• Increasing speed and capacity by developing digital twins for manufacturing processes

• Quantum chemical modeling for formulation optimization

• Reducing the failure of process scale-up through predictive modeling

  
  

Dr. Ramesh Rachapudi

Vice President of Business Development Europe and Asia Markets

Dr. Rachapudi brings extensive commercialization and regulatory strategy experience from his distinguished career in pharmaceutical development and business operations. His 11-year tenure as Director of External Manufacturing and Capability Building at Dr. Reddy's Laboratories positioned him at the forefront of global pharmaceutical partnerships and digital transformation initiatives.

His portfolio management experience at Merck and Schering-Plough, combined with technical consulting roles at Sanofi, provides him with deep understanding of pharmaceutical business development across multiple markets. His track record of leading digital transformation initiatives across multiple major pharmaceutical companies, including implementing "Any Time Audit Ready" organizations, demonstrates his ability to drive operational excellence at scale.

As part of our business development team, Dr. Rachapudi will identify strategic partnerships, new collaborators, and advance our commercial projects across European and Asian markets. His expertise in regulatory compliance, manufacturing partnerships, and digital transformation will accelerate Persist's global expansion.

Key Initiatives:

• Global partnership development and management

• Digital transformation in pharmaceutical operations

• Commercial project advancement and M&A strategy

Advancing the Future of Drug Product Development

We're commitment to building the most advanced drug product development platform in the industry. By combining Dr. Mohammad's computational expertise with Dr. Rachapudi's commercial acumen, we are positioned to deliver breakthrough innovations that bridge the gap between scientific discovery and market reality.

Our integrated approach—combining computational chemistry, AI-driven analytics, and robotic automation—represents the next evolution in pharmaceutical development. As we continue to expand our capabilities and global reach, Persist AI remains focused on delivering faster, more predictable, and more cost-effective solutions for complex formulation challenges across all major pharmaceutical modalities.