South African startup CureRoot is pioneering a new frontier in pharmaceutical innovation by harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to discover novel drugs derived from African medicinal plants. Founded in Johannesburg in October 2023 by entrepreneurs Njabulo Skhosana and Khonzisizwe Somani, CureRoot aims to dramatically reduce the time and cost associated with traditional drug discovery processes.
The company’s core mission is to analyze the therapeutic properties of plant compounds in order to develop treatments for complex diseases such as cancer and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).
“Promising compounds identified through AI are further validated in our laboratory. Our vision is to unlock Africa’s rich biodiversity to develop innovative medicines that address critical global health challenges,” Skhosana explained.
CureRoot distinguishes itself by blending Africa’s largely untapped biodiversity with advanced AI technologies, offering a unique advantage over conventional pharmaceutical companies and biotech startups.
“We noticed a gap in how AI is being used to explore African plants for drug discovery,” Skhosana said. “While natural products have long been a focus for some companies, few integrate AI specifically with Africa’s resources. Our approach positions us at the forefront of this emerging space.”
The startup has already generated significant interest. While still in the pre-clinical phase, CureRoot’s AI-driven model has attracted strong early support, reflected in a pre-seed funding round where 50 percent of the target amount has already been committed or transferred.
According to Skhosana, the secured funds will be directed towards expanding CureRoot’s operations and intensifying research into African medicinal plants, with an initial focus on oncology and MDR-TB treatments.
Although currently based in Johannesburg, CureRoot’s ambitions are global.
“We aim to serve the global pharmaceutical market, starting with oncology and MDR-TB,” Skhosana stated. “Our expansion plans include establishing research collaborations across the African continent and targeting international markets with high incidences of these diseases. Over time, we also intend to broaden our drug pipeline to address other illnesses where African medicinal plants show strong therapeutic potential.”
By merging Africa’s botanical heritage with cutting-edge AI, CureRoot is poised to redefine the future of medicine—bringing local resources to the forefront of global health innovation.
