Design and Developability

As the first of three core Discovery Sciences pillars, alongside Disease Biology and Human Safety NAMs, the Design and Developability stage defines the trajectory of your program, combining deep scientific expertise, AI-enabled design, and full-stack discovery technologies to create candidates designed to succeed, not just advance.

Design & Developability Services

Target Identification and Deconvolution

A combination of experimental and computational approaches supports target identification, generating robust biological evidence of a targets involvement in disease processes.

Hit Identification

Accelerate hit identification with integrated technologies, virtual screening, compound libraries, cell-based assays, fragment screening, and AI-enabled discovery approaches.

Hit to Lead

Identify the most promising compounds using a DMTA workflow that unites medicinal chemistry, structural biophysics, and disease-focused biology to transition from hit identification to a lead series.

Lead Optimization and Candidate Delivery

Transform promising leads into development-ready candidates with services that demonstrate biological effect, acceptable safety profile, and optimal translation to clinical trials.

Disease Biology

Through integrated preclinical drug efficacy, target validation, translational biomarker, and drug pharmacology studies, we assess the effectiveness of drug action in the right disease context.

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Human Safety NAMs

New approach methodologies (NAMs) enable the generation of human-relevant safety insights across drug discovery programs to deliver improved clinical success.

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19 Months

We deliver small molecules, from Hit ID to candidates, in 19 months

12 Months

We deliver oligonucleotide candidates in 12 months

100+ Candidates

We’ve delivered over 100 preclinical candidates since 2000

54 to Phase I

54 candidates have reached Phase I clinical trials

37 to Phase II

37 candidates have reached Phase II clinical trials (POC)

4 Approvals

4 drugs approved and marketed by our clients

Key Design and Developability Capabilities

Services Across Multiple Modalities

Embedded Within Integrated Drug Discovery

Generating Candidates Designed to Succeed

Our platform integrates computational, experimental and translational capabilities to accelerate and de-risk discovery:

Broad Hit ID platforms aligned with downstream functional assays
AI-assisted design and predictive models
Structural biology and biophysics
Translational in vitro ADME and developability screening
Deep translational PK/PD, pharmacology and biomarker capabilities
Multi-OMIC and high content workflows for data rich modelling
Protein Sciences
Pharmaceutics and formulation

Deeper biological understanding, technological breakthroughs and the need to modulate “undruggable” targets are driving growth in the variety of drug modalities being developed for therapeutic application. Advances in AI-driving drug discovery and novel delivery mechanisms are accelerating this expansion.

We have extensive experience in multiple modalities and support programs across:

Small molecules
RNA therapeutics, including ASOs and siRNA
Antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) (Specifica)
Emerging modalities such as degraders and molecular glues

Design and Developability is not just a standalone service, it is a core engine within integrated programs tightly connected to downstream biology, pharmacology and safety. Together, this integrated model enables us to delivers candidates faster than industry average: small molecule Hit ID to candidate in 19 months and oligonucleotide candidates in 12 months.

Design & Developability creates optimized candidate molecules
Disease Biology validates pharmacology and efficacy
Human Safety NAMs derisk liabilities early

At the earliest stages of discovery, the key challenge is not simply generating hits, it is identifying and prioritizing the right molecules with the best chance of clinical success. We enable faster, expert-led decisions, reduced attrition through early developability insights, and selection of molecules based on merit and translational viability.

We bring together:

20+ years of discovery expertise and data, across multiple modalities
AI-assisted design and predictive modelling
Integrated chemistry, biology, biophysics and ADME capabilities
Automated, rapid DMTA cycles
Translational focus, driving for clinical success
True strategic partnership

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Accelerating Discovery with AI-enabled, 5-day DMTA

Our approach is built around AI-assist and automation, such as the Design–Make–Test–Analyse (DMTA) cycle, the engine of modern drug discovery. We’re continually optimizing both cycle times, to deliver results faster, and cycle quality, so improving decision-making with each iteration. This accelerates progression from hit identification to candidate and delivers better candidates faster, with a stronger foundation for clinical success.

AI-driven generative design
Predictive and in vitro ADME modelling to prioritize the best compounds earlier, with globally competitive pricing and turnaround times
AI-enabled automated synthesis and assay platforms
Design of Experiments (DoE) to reduce experimental timelines

Judgement That Filters For Winners

Technology alone is not enough. Our approach is built on expert-led decision making, combining:

Deep experience across pharma, biotech and academia
Strategic thinking across modality, target and mechanism
Confidence to challenge assumptions and refine direction

Design & Developability