IRBM
IRBM is an Italian Contract Research Organization providing integrated preclinical drug discovery services spanning small molecules, peptides, antibodies, and new modalities for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and non-profit foundation clients worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersPomezia, Italy
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What IRBM does
IRBM S.p.A. is an Italian Contract Research Organization headquartered in Pomezia, near Rome, founded in 1989. The company provides fully integrated preclinical drug discovery services to pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, non-profit foundations, and academic medical centers, spanning target validation, hit identification, lead optimization, DMPK/ADME profiling, and preclinical candidate nomination. Notable collaborations include extended peptide therapeutics work with Merck & Co., a multi-year cGAS inhibitor program for tauopathies with the Rainwater Charitable Foundation and Weill Cornell Medicine, and prior manufacturing of the AZD1222 Covid-19 vaccine for AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford.
The company's core technical platform integrates medicinal chemistry, biology, DMPK, and in vivo pharmacology under a single 1,500 m² AAALAC-accredited facility staffed by 200+ scientists. Capabilities span small molecules, peptides, antibodies, and emerging modalities including PROTACs and RNA binders, supported by proprietary and licensed technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 (via ERS Genomics license), phage and mRNA display, MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry imaging (Bruker rapifleX), an in-house covalent fragment library (~1,000 fragments plus access to 7,000 commercial), and an expanded functional genomics platform with CRISPR tiling, base editing, and prime editing. The portfolio has contributed to three marketed therapeutics (HIV, HCV, and oncology indications) and delivered 30+ preclinical candidates, with 100+ patents and 800+ publications attributed to IRBM scientists.
IRBM generates revenue through fee-for-service contracts with biotech and pharmaceutical partners, with project-based, quote-driven pricing and no recurring subscription component. Supplemental funding has come from European public sources, including a €15 million European Investment Bank loan (2022) and a €33 million Invitalia-backed PICoCs investment program (2020-2024) supporting R&D and infrastructure expansion. The company is privately held and founder-controlled, with CEO Matteo Liguori and CSO Carlo Toniotti leading operations; its wholly-owned subsidiary Advaxia Biologics supports adenovirus vaccine development and manufacturing. IRBM operates from a single site in Italy but serves a global customer base via direct enterprise sales, marketplace platforms (Scientist.com, ScienceExchange), and Italian Trade Agency matchmaking programs.
IRBM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- IRBM
- Legal name
- IRBM S.p.A.
- Website
- https://irbm.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- IRBM is an Italian Contract Research Organization providing integrated preclinical drug discovery services spanning small molecules, peptides, antibodies, and new modalities for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and non-profit foundation clients worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
IRBM industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Contract Research Services
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Clinical CROs (Phase I–IV) (HLAGAAAA)
Keywords
Where IRBM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pomezia
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
IRBM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Contract Research Services: IRBM generates revenue through fee-for-service contracts with biotech and pharmaceutical companies for preclinical drug discovery research, providing services from target validation through candidate nomination. Revenue is project-based with no recurring subscription component.
- Public Funding and Grants: IRBM receives public funding from European Investment Bank (€15M for coronavirus vaccine R&D), Invitalia through Contratto di Sviluppo (€33M PICoCs investment program), and Region of Lazio (Zika virus research funding). These funds support specific R&D programs and infrastructure expansion.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
IRBM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
IRBM is an Italian Contract Research Organization (CRO) that provides integrated preclinical drug discovery services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors. Its work spans target identification, lead optimization, and preclinical research activities, delivered through a single integrated research platform rather than as a developer of its own therapeutic products.
Product overview
IRBM is an integrated Contract Research Organization (CRO) providing full-spectrum preclinical drug discovery services from concept to candidate nomination. The portfolio centers on Integrated Drug Discovery Services as the core offering, supported by specialized platforms for Small Molecule Discovery, Peptide Drug Discovery, Antibody Discovery, and Display Technologies. Key module/add-on services include the Functional Genomics Platform (CRISPR-based) and Purification & Automation Suite. The company operates across three main therapeutic areas (Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Neuroscience) with dedicated research programs such as SHP2 allosteric inhibitors for RAS-driven cancers and Zika virus antivirals. With 200+ scientists under one roof, IRBM delivers chemistry, biology, DMPK, and in vivo pharmacology capabilities integrated across the entire preclinical continuum. Notable achievements include 3 marketed drugs, 30 preclinical candidates, and 100 patents attributed to IRBM scientists.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Integrated Preclinical Drug Discovery Services
- Target Identification Services
- Lead Optimization Services
- Preclinical Research Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 3 marketed drugs contributed (HIV, HCV, ovarian cancer, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma)
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use IRBM
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
IRBM technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability9 records
Feature10 records
IRBM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Gavi, the Vaccine AllianceminorIRBM engaged with Gavi at G7 Ministerial Meeting on Development to explore strategies for strengthening healthcare resilience, advancing drug and vaccine development, and improving access to preventive care globally.
- ERS GenomicscoreNon-exclusive CRISPR/Cas9 license agreement granting IRBM access to ERS' patent portfolio comprising 100+ patents globally. Enables IRBM to leverage gene editing technology for target identification, validation, generation of predictive preclinical models, and elucidation of mechanisms of action for novel therapeutics.
- Rainwater Charitable FoundationcoreMulti-year drug discovery collaboration to identify small molecule cGAS inhibitors for treating tauopathies and neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's. RCF provides over $160 million in funding to promising research programs. Partnership includes Weill Cornell Medicine and Dr. Li Gan.
- Weill Cornell MedicinecoreCollaboration with Dr. Li Gan's neuroscience research targeting neuroimmune pathways. IRBM provides drug discovery and development expertise; Weill Cornell contributes scientific leadership for neurodegenerative disorders. Dr. Gan is founder of Aeton Therapeutics.
- Merck & Co. Inc. (MSD)coreExtended peptide therapeutics collaboration. IRBM contributes expertise in peptide design and synthesis; Merck provides drug development capabilities. The collaboration has successfully delivered orally available peptide candidates for clinical advancement.
- CNCCS Scarl (National Collection of Chemical Compounds and Screening)corePOINTEC project partnership to strengthen CNCCS technological infrastructure for compound management and screening activities. Partnership aims to evolve CNCCS into a European Central Facility. The Zika virus discovery originated from CNCCS collaborative initiative.
- Advaxia Biologics S.r.l.coreAffiliate company within IRBM Group specializing in adenovirus vaccines. Offers fully integrated services from development to manufacturing for preclinical and clinical supply. Co-beneficiary in PICoCs investment program.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
IRBM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Charles River Laboratories: Charles River is a global, large-scale CRO with extensive preclinical drug discovery, safety assessment, and manufacturing capabilities. Overlaps with IRBM on preclinical services but operates at much greater scale and across a broader services portfolio including clinical and manufacturing.
- WuXi AppTec: WuXi AppTec is a global CRO/CDMO offering drug discovery, preclinical, and clinical services at massive scale. Overlaps with IRBM on preclinical drug discovery and integrated chemistry/biology services but is structurally far larger and serves a broader end-to-end mandate.
- Eurofins Discovery: Eurofins Discovery is a business unit of Eurofins Scientific offering drug discovery services including medicinal chemistry, ADME, and biology. Comparable to IRBM on preclinical services but operates as part of a much larger testing and laboratory services conglomerate.
- GenScript: GenScript is a global biotechnology services company offering gene synthesis, peptide/protein production, antibody discovery, and cell therapy services. Overlaps with IRBM on peptide chemistry, antibody phage display, and biology services but is much broader and larger.
Emerging players
- Exscientia: Exscientia is an AI-driven drug discovery company with integrated design, chemistry, and biology capabilities. Partial overlap with IRBM's integrated CRO model but distinguished by AI-first design focus and a co-developed asset strategy rather than pure fee-for-service.
- Schrödinger: Schrödinger provides computational chemistry and physics-based drug design software and services with a growing co-development pipeline. Tangentially comparable to IRBM on drug discovery expertise but primarily a software-and-SaaS-plus-co-developer model rather than a fee-for-service CRO.
Direct peers
- Pharmaron: Pharmaron is a China-headquartered CRO offering integrated drug discovery and development services including chemistry, biology, DMPK, and in vivo pharmacology. Compares to IRBM on integrated CRO model with global pharma/biotech client base, though at significantly larger scale.
- Evotec SE: Evotec is a publicly listed integrated drug discovery CRO offering end-to-end preclinical services spanning target identification, medicinal chemistry, DMPK, and in vivo pharmacology—directly comparable to IRBM's integrated one-roof CRO model. Both companies focus on small molecules, peptides, and emerging modalities with a similar pharma/biotech customer base.
- Sygnature Discovery: Sygnature is a UK-based preclinical drug discovery CRO providing integrated medicinal chemistry, DMPK, and biology services directly comparable to IRBM's core offering. Both are mid-sized European CROs focused on similar biotech and pharma sponsor clients with comparable therapeutic-area breadth.
- Selvita: Selvita is a European preclinical CRO offering integrated drug discovery services including medicinal chemistry, biology, and in vivo pharmacology to pharma and biotech clients. Comparable to IRBM in scale, geographic focus on Europe, and integrated CRO business model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
IRBM social profiles
Digital presenceIRBM compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
IRBM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
IRBM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
IRBM subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
IRBM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
IRBM M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about IRBM
What does IRBM do?
IRBM is an Italian Contract Research Organization (CRO) that provides integrated preclinical drug discovery services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors. Its work spans target identification, lead optimization, and preclinical research activities, delivered through a single integrated research platform rather than as a developer of its own therapeutic products.
Is IRBM a public or private company?
IRBM is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was IRBM founded?
IRBM was founded in 1989. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is IRBM based?
IRBM is headquartered in Pomezia, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does IRBM make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Contract Research Services are the primary driver. The others are public Funding and Grants.
Who are IRBM's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Charles River Laboratories, WuXi AppTec, Eurofins Discovery and GenScript. Emerging players are Exscientia and Schrödinger. Direct peers are Pharmaron, Evotec SE, Sygnature Discovery and Selvita.
Does IRBM have an API?
No public API is recorded for IRBM.
What industry is IRBM in?
IRBM's product category is Contract Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAAAA, Clinical CROs (Phase I–IV). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.