NovAliX
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersIllkirch, France
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What NovAliX does
NovAliX is a privately held, France-headquartered preclinical contract research organization founded in 2002 that provides integrated drug discovery services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. The company operates five service platforms: Novalead (chemistry and DNA-encoded libraries), Novalens (biophysics), Novalink (pharmacology and DMPK), Novalaunch (integrated drug discovery programs), and Novaluxe (cosmetics). Service delivery spans hit identification, medicinal chemistry, structural biology (Cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, NMR), biophysics (SPR, mass spectrometry, switchSENSE), ADME-PK and preformulation, in vivo pharmacology across oncology, immuno-inflammation, fibrosis, kidney disease, metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, and osteoarthritis, plus biobank and histology services. Equipment assets include Bruker ultra-high-field NMR (600 MHz to 1 GHz), Cryo-EM Glacios and Titan Krios microscopes with Falcon4i detectors, an in-house HPC cluster with 20 NVIDIA GPUs, and monthly privileged synchrotron access at SOLEIL. Reported outputs include 62 drug candidates developed or supported, 1,000+ solved crystal structures, 600+ structures across 130+ proteins, and peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Nature, ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, and Scientific Reports.
The company's business model is a professional services CRO with fee-for-service and full-time equivalent contracts complemented by research and milestone fees, plus alternative structures including technology transfer, maturation programs, and risk-sharing alliances with biotech, pharma, venture capital, and technology transfer offices. Distribution is direct enterprise sales through outsourcing and co-located insourcing models, supported by major industry events (BIO International Convention 2026) and scientific webinars. Geographic footprint spans four French sites (Strasbourg HQ, Romainville, Gif-sur-Yvette, Val-de-Reuil), a US biophysics operation inside Bruker's Demo Lab in Billerica, Massachusetts, and an international site in Sidi Thabet, Tunisia. Strategic partnerships include a minority investment by Bruker (August 2024), a long-term collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences (March 2024, with MPI scientists embedded in Strasbourg), and the PIPAc consortium (Bruker, NovAliX, Alysophil, De Dietrich Process Systems) developing AI-driven autonomous continuous manufacturing for pharmaceutical APIs. The workforce is reported at 430+ colleagues with 100% scientific teams holding prior pharma industry experience.
AI/ML is a differentiated capability layered across the platform, centered on the proprietary NovaDEL DNA-encoded library with integrated machine learning models, generative AI for hit expansion, AI-driven cheminformatics for potency and ADME prediction, AI-based histology quantification (Visiopharm), and AI-assisted 3D protein structure determination (ARTINA). The company's cheminformatics team has achieved top rankings in major international blind challenges, including #1 in the ASAP Discovery–Polaris–OpenADMET Antiviral Challenge and #1 in ROC-AUC in the DREAM Target 2035 Drug Discovery Challenge. Ownership remains with executive management, scientific founders, and employees following the Bruker minority investment, and the company operates as Novalix SAS under French law.
NovAliX firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NovAliX
- Legal name
- Novalix SAS
- Website
- https://novalix.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NovAliX industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Preclinical Drug Discovery Services (Contract Research Organization)
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Preclinical CROs (Discovery/Pharmacology/DMPK) (HLAGAAAB)
Keywords
Where NovAliX is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Illkirch
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
NovAliX business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Fee-for-Service Research Contracts: Novalix provides research services on a fee-for-service and full-time equivalent (FTE) basis, including research and milestone fees. This is the primary revenue model for the CRO.
- Risk-Sharing Alliances and Alternative Commercial Structures: Novalix considers alternative commercial structures including technology transfer, maturation programs, and risk-sharing alliances with diverse partners including biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical corporations, venture capital firms, and technology transfer offices (TTOs).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Fee-for-service and full-time equivalent basis |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
NovAliX product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NovAliX is a preclinical contract research organization (CRO) providing integrated drug discovery services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies across five service platforms: Novalead (chemistry and proprietary DNA-encoded libraries), Novalens (biophysics — Cryo-EM, X-ray, NMR, SPR, MS, switchSENSE), Novalink (pharmacology and DMPK), Novalaunch (drug discovery), and Novaluxe (cosmetics). Services are delivered through outsourcing, insourcing, and risk-sharing engagement models on a fee-for-service and FTE basis.
Product overview
NovAliX is a premier preclinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) offering an integrated drug discovery platform across three core service pillars — Chemistry (Novalead), Biophysics (Novalens), and Pharmacology/DMPK (Novalink) — coordinated through its Drug Discovery division (Novalaunch). The company operates a modular portfolio of specialized services including DNA-Encoded Libraries (NovaDEL with integrated AI-ML pipeline), X-ray crystallography, Cryo-EM (with Max Planck partnership), NMR (with Bruker ultra-high-field instruments and AI-driven ARTINA software), SPR, mass spectrometry, switchSENSE technology (Bruker heliX+), and comprehensive in vivo pharmacology models across oncology, immuno-inflammation, fibrosis, kidney diseases, metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, and osteoarthritis. The company also applies its drug discovery expertise to cosmetics through the Novaluxe brand. NovAliX offers multiple collaborative engagement models (outsourcing, insourcing, and risk-sharing alliances) and delivers services primarily as a fee-for-service and full-time equivalent CRO, with over 430 employees across France (Strasbourg, Romainville, Gif-sur-Yvette, Val-de-Reuil) and the US (Billerica, Massachusetts).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Novalead: Chemistry services platform for compound refinement and optimization using proprietary DNA-encoded library resources.
- Novalens
- Novalink
- Novalaunch
- Novaluxe
- NovaDEL
Products and services
- Chemistry Services (Novalead) Expert chemistry services refining and purifying compounds for biotech and pharmaceutical clients, leveraging a proprietary DNA-encoded library and capabilities spanning organometallic, heterocyclic, photo-/electro-chemistry, flow chemistry, PROTACs, and compound management.
- Biophysics Services (Novalens) Comprehensive biophysics platform providing a complete view of molecules and interactions — characterization, binding, conformational change — using protein production, Cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, NMR, SPR, mass spectrometry and switchSENSE technology, for biotech and pharma discovery programs.
- Pharmacology and DMPK Services (Novalink) Custom pharmacology and DMPK solutions that connect preclinical efficacy with clinical success — biochemical assays, cellular and primary tissue assays, ADME-PK and preformulation, in vivo pharmacology, histology, biobank, and PK/PD — for biotech and pharma clients.
- Drug Discovery Services (Novalaunch) Integrated drug discovery programs executed by senior scientists with big-pharma experience, combining medicinal chemistry, cheminformatics and DNA-encoded libraries to support early-stage biotech discovery projects across all internal platforms.
- Cosmetics Services (Novaluxe) Cosmetics discovery services using proven drug discovery expertise — custom testing, fragrances, flavors and ingredients, NMR analytics, in vitro assays and derma-filler solutions — for cosmetics manufacturers and brands.
- NovaDEL DNA-Encoded Library Platform Proprietary DNA-encoded library screening service for hit identification and rapid lead generation, combining library design, QC, AI-driven DEL data analysis, ML DEL models and biophysical hit confirmation for biotech and pharma clients.
- Outsourcing Engagement Model External project support model where clients collaborate with Novalix's senior scientists to strategize, execute and deliver drug discovery programs on a fee-for-service / FTE basis.
- Insourcing Engagement Model Co-located engagement model where Novalix teams work in close proximity with a client's team in a streamlined environment, often coupled with outsourcing for capacity flexibility and operational efficiency.
- Risk-Sharing Alliances and Alternative Commercial Structures Alternative commercial structures including technology transfer, maturation programs and risk-sharing alliances with biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical corporations, venture capital firms and technology transfer offices.
Quantifiable outcome
- Top performer in global AI/ML drug discovery competitions — ranked #1 in IC50 prediction for SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and #4 in aggregated ADME among 65+ teams (Polaris Antiviral Challenge)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use NovAliX
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
NovAliX technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability12 records
Feature9 records
NovAliX partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Multidisciplinary SciencescoreLong-term strategic partnership between Novalix and Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences in Göttingen, Germany. Max Planck scientists began operations in January 2024 at Novalix's Strasbourg research center to tackle oncology and anti-infective projects. The collaboration aims to make the translation of scientific research and academic insights into real therapies more efficient, combining Novalix's drug discovery expertise with MPI's Cryo-EM knowledge and exclusive next-generation image-refining software.
- PIPAc Consortium (Bruker, Novalix, Alysophil, De Dietrich Process Systems)minorCollaborative consortium developing an AI-driven autonomous continuous manufacturing platform for pharmaceutical API production, integrating continuous flow chemistry, in-line benchtop NMR spectroscopy, digital twin technology, and AI control systems. Validated using fentanyl and propofol workflows. Partners: Bruker, Novalix, Alysophil, and De Dietrich Process Systems.
- COS Europe – Strasbourg School of OsteopathyminorNovalix partnered with COS Europe – Strasbourg School of Osteopathy during 2026 Workplace Well-Being Week (June 15-22) to offer employees individual osteopathy consultations at the school's teaching clinics, conducted by final-year students under experienced osteopath supervision.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
NovAliX competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Evotec: Evotec is a Hamburg-based integrated drug discovery CRO offering chemistry, biophysics, in vivo pharmacology, and DMPK with similar outsourcing/insourcing and risk-sharing models. Closest direct peer to NovAliX in scope and European footprint.
- WuXi AppTec: China-headquartered full-service preclinical CRO with extensive chemistry, DMPK, and biology capabilities serving global biotech and pharma. Direct competitor for outsourced preclinical drug discovery projects.
- Sygnature Discovery: UK-based preclinical CRO specializing in medicinal chemistry, DMPK, and in vivo pharmacology with strong drug discovery client base in Europe and US. Closely comparable in integrated medicinal chemistry + DMPK positioning.
- Pharmaron: China/US/UK-based preclinical CRO offering chemistry, biology, DMPK, and safety assessment. Direct competitor for integrated preclinical drug discovery outsourcing.
- Selvita: Poland-based CRO/CDMO offering medicinal chemistry, DMPK, and preclinical services with strong European biotech client base. Comparable scale and integrated discovery offering.
Broad incumbents
- Charles River Laboratories: Much larger US-based preclinical CRO with discovery, safety assessment, and manufacturing services. Overlaps with NovAliX in early discovery and in vivo pharmacology but operates at substantially greater scale and global footprint.
- Eurofins Discovery: Discovery arm of Eurofins providing in vitro pharmacology, ADME, and screening services under a broader testing-services portfolio. Overlaps with NovAliX in assay, ADME, and biophysics but as part of a much larger testing platform.
Emerging players
- Domainex: UK-based preclinical CRO with integrated medicinal chemistry, structural biology (X-ray/cryo-EM), and DMPK services for small/medium biotech. Smaller than NovAliX but overlaps on integrated discovery and biophysics positioning.
- GVK Biosciences (Aragen Life Sciences): India-based discovery CRO providing medicinal chemistry, DMPK, and biology services. Targets similar virtual and emerging biotech clients with cost-advantaged discovery outsourcing.
- Schrödinger: US-based computational drug discovery platform with AI/ML-driven FEP+ and LiveDesign; intersects with NovAliX's cheminformatics and AI-driven DEL capabilities rather than its wet-lab services, representing an emerging alternative approach to early discovery.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
NovAliX social profiles
Digital presenceNovAliX compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
NovAliX financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NovAliX leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
NovAliX funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NovAliX 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 NovAliX
What does NovAliX do?
NovAliX is a preclinical contract research organization (CRO) providing integrated drug discovery services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies across five service platforms: Novalead (chemistry and proprietary DNA-encoded libraries), Novalens (biophysics — Cryo-EM, X-ray, NMR, SPR, MS, switchSENSE), Novalink (pharmacology and DMPK), Novalaunch (drug discovery), and Novaluxe (cosmetics). Services are delivered through outsourcing, insourcing, and risk-sharing engagement models on a fee-for-service and FTE basis.
Is NovAliX a public or private company?
NovAliX is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was NovAliX founded?
NovAliX was founded in 2002. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is NovAliX based?
NovAliX is headquartered in Illkirch, France, in the Europe region.
How does NovAliX make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Fee-for-Service Research Contracts are the primary driver. The others are risk-Sharing Alliances and Alternative Commercial Structures.
Who are NovAliX's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Evotec, WuXi AppTec, Sygnature Discovery, Pharmaron and Selvita. Broad incumbents are Charles River Laboratories and Eurofins Discovery. Emerging players are Domainex, GVK Biosciences (Aragen Life Sciences) and Schrödinger.
Does NovAliX have an API?
No public API is recorded for NovAliX.
What industry is NovAliX in?
NovAliX's product category is Preclinical Drug Discovery Services (Contract Research Organization). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAAAB, Preclinical CROs (Discovery/Pharmacology/DMPK). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.