IRBM

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.

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

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

• Preclinical drug discovery
• Contract research services
• Pharmaceutical research
• Biomedical research
• Integrated drug discovery

Headquarters

HQ city

Pomezia

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Core 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

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Gavi, the Vaccine AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2024IRBM 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 GenomicscoreTechnology or Integration · 20 May 2024Non-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 FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 July 2023Multi-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 MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 July 2023Collaboration 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2023Extended 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPOINTEC 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.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate 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

Broad 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@irbm_drugdiscovery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/irbm-science-park-s-p-a-

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IRBM