AI plus cheap CROs lets biotech startups outsource preclinical work at 20-60% of in-house cost
PatrickKidger · x · 2026-10-30
A biotech founder responds to the Mithril Medicine news, saying he dramatically overestimated hiring needs.
- Beyond AI, COVID-era overbuilding made CROs far cheaper, letting startups outsource ops, chemistry, tox, and most preclinical work at 20-60% of in-house cost.
- The AI+automation+CRO combo reshapes minimum team size, at some long-term speed tradeoff.
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