Dalriada Therapeutics

What Dalriada Therapeutics does

Dalriada Drug Discovery Inc., operating as Dalriada Therapeutics, is a privately held contract research organization (CRO) founded in Mississauga, Ontario in 2017 by Diana Kraskouskaya (CEO) and Patrick Gunning (CSO). The company provides end-to-end small molecule drug discovery services — from target validation and hit identification through lead optimization and preclinical development candidate (PDC) nomination — primarily for virtual, semi-virtual, and early-stage biotechnology companies that lack full in-house discovery infrastructure. Its proprietary "Turn-Key" model integrates three operational pillars: Discovery Labs (medicinal chemistry, synthetic/analytical chemistry, cell and molecular biology, protein production, biophysics, crystallography, ADME/DMPK, CADD, and proteomics), Discovery Strategy (program design, medicinal chemistry leadership, in vitro/in vivo pharmacology, ADME/DMPK strategy), and Discovery Management (program management, sub-contracting oversight, controlled substances handling). The company employs roughly 60-100+ cross-disciplinary scientists, over 70% of whom hold PhD degrees, with combined 300+ years of pharma and biotech experience.

Dalriada's differentiated technology centers on its proprietary iCLASS platform — a live-cell multi-chemoproteomics system that identifies druggable pockets and protein-ligand interactions with site-level precision — alongside specialized capabilities in covalent drug discovery, targeted protein degradation (PROTACs and heterobifunctional degraders), GPCR programs, CNS programs, cannabinoid chemistry, and psychedelic scaffold chemistry. The iCLASS platform was publicly launched in 2025. The company maintains strategic technology and academic collaborations including SilcsBio (computational drug design), SpiroChem (chemistry), the Structural Genomics Consortium (epigenetic probes), Topos Bio (intrinsically disordered proteins), and Cleveland Clinic's Center for Therapeutics Discovery (covalent drug discovery).

Dalriada operates a fee-for-service professional services model with project-based, quote-driven pricing tailored to program scope and complexity, and serves 30+ clients globally across North America, the UK, and additional geographies. Marquee engagements include Canopy Growth (cannabinoid drug discovery), Antibe Therapeutics (anti-inflammatory platform), atai Life Sciences / Invyxis (psychedelic CNS), General Inception (multi-program venture studio), Dunad Therapeutics (contributing to the $1.35B Novartis protein degradation collaboration), Janpix (STAT degrader platform), and academic and biotech clients from Harvard, OICR, and the SGC. Distribution is direct B2B consultative sales augmented by conference presence (AACR), thought leadership content (Small Molecule Highlights blog), and partnership-driven lead generation. The company has not publicly disclosed external funding rounds beyond minor university-affiliated grants.

Name

Dalriada Therapeutics

Legal name

Dalriada Drug Discovery Inc.

Website

https://dalriadatx.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Dalriada Therapeutics is a Canadian contract research organization that provides integrated, Turn-Key small molecule drug discovery services — from hit identification through preclinical development candidate — for virtual, semi-virtual, and early-stage biotech companies, distinguished by proprietary chemoproteomics and covalent/TPD expertise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Drug Discovery 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

Preclinical CROs (Discovery/Pharmacology/DMPK) (HLAGAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cheminformatics & Molecular Modeling / CADD (HLAGAJAE), Target Identification & Validation Platforms (omics-driven, chemoproteomics, genetic validation) (HLAAAIAI), Bioanalytical & Biomarker CROs (PK/PD/Immunogenicity) (HLAGAAAD)

Keywords

• Small molecule drug discovery
• Contract research organization
• Medicinal chemistry services
• Targeted protein degradation
• Chemoproteomics platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Mississauga

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Contract Research Services: Fee-for-service contract research organization providing integrated drug discovery services from concept to preclinical development candidate (PDC). Services span medicinal chemistry, biology, ADME/DMPK, proteomics, and program management. Revenue is project-based with programs typically running from hit identification through lead optimization.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dalriada is a contract research organization (CRO) providing integrated small molecule drug discovery services on a Turn-Key model spanning medicinal chemistry, cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, biophysics, ADME/DMPK, CADD, and proteomics, from target validation through preclinical development candidate (PDC). The company's proprietary iCLASS live-cell chemoproteomics platform and Turn-Key engagement framework are positioned for virtual and semi-virtual biotechs needing deep scientific judgment across covalent drug discovery, targeted protein degradation, and other advanced modalities.

Product overview

Dalriada offers a Turn-Key™ drug discovery services model providing end-to-end capabilities from concept to Preclinical Development Candidate (PDC). The company operates as a contract research organization specializing in small molecule drug discovery, with integrated services spanning medicinal chemistry, cell and molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry, ADME/DMPK, proteomics, and computational chemistry. The portfolio includes the proprietary iCLASS platform (a live-cell chemoproteomics platform), Turn-Key Discovery Labs (laboratory capabilities), Turn-Key Discovery Strategy (scientific guidance), and Turn-Key Discovery Management (program management), all designed to support virtual and semi-virtual biotech companies in advancing their drug discovery programs from target validation through lead optimization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• iCLASS: Dalriada's proprietary live-cell multi-proteomics platform that integrates advanced wet-lab and computational technologies to identify druggable pockets and protein-ligand interactions in live-cell environments with site-level precision.

Products and services

• Turn-Key Drug Discovery Programs (Concept to PDC) Integrated, end-to-end small molecule drug discovery engagements from target validation through lead optimization and preclinical development candidate (PDC) nomination, including specialized covalent, degrader, cannabinoid, psychedelic, and NCE IP programs. Designed for virtual and semi-virtual biotechs.
• Turn-Key Discovery Labs Wet-laboratory capabilities including medicinal, synthetic, and analytical chemistry; cell and molecular biology; protein production; biochemical, biophysical, and crystallography assays; in vitro ADME(T) and in vivo DMPK; CADD (docking, model development, in silico ADME); proteomics (whole-proteome profiling, chemoproteomics); custom assays; and biomarker analysis.
• Turn-Key Discovery Strategy Scientific strategy and guidance across program design and execution, medicinal chemistry, in vitro pharmacology, in vivo pharmacology, and ADME/DMPK for drug discovery programs.
• Turn-Key Discovery Management Program management, sub-contracting management, and controlled substances handling for drug discovery programs, providing dedicated program teams that manage timelines, vendors, and regulatory-adjacent logistics.
• Covalent Drug Discovery Programs Specialized drug discovery programs for covalent therapeutics, including target identification, screening, and lead optimization using Dalriada's covalent screening platform and chemoproteomics capabilities to balance reactivity and selectivity.
• Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) Discovery Programs Specialized discovery programs for targeted protein degraders, including monovalent degraders, PROTACs, and other heterobifunctional modalities for challenging and undruggable targets.
• Cannabinoid Drug Discovery Programs Specialized discovery programs for novel cannabinoid therapeutics, including NCE IP creation, medicinal chemistry, and preclinical candidate advancement.
• Psychedelic Drug Discovery Programs Specialized discovery programs for psychedelic-inspired small molecules (e.g., 5-HT2A modulators, ketamine/psilocybin scaffolds) for mental health and CNS indications.
• NCE IP Creation and Expansion Service for creating and expanding new chemical entity (NCE) intellectual property portfolios through medicinal chemistry and analog programs, including fast-follower strategies.
• Proteomics and Chemoproteomics Services Mass spectrometry-based proteomics services including whole-proteome profiling, chemoproteomics, target engagement profiling, intact mass analysis, covalent binding kinetics, and mechanism-of-action proteomics.
• Medicinal Chemistry Services Full-range medicinal chemistry services from hit identification through lead optimization, including SAR exploration, analog synthesis, and design-make-test-analyze iterations, with expertise in covalent and degrader chemistry.
• DMPK / ADME Services In vitro ADME(T) and in vivo DMPK studies to characterize absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and pharmacokinetics of small molecule drug candidates.
• CADD (Computer-Aided Drug Design) Services Computer-aided drug design services including molecular docking, model development, and in silico ADME(T) predictions to support hit identification, lead generation, and lead optimization.
• In Vitro Biology Services Cell and molecular biology, protein production, biochemical and biophysical assay development, crystallography, and MS-based protein assays to support drug discovery and target validation.
• Controlled Substances Discovery Management Management of controlled substance requirements within drug discovery programs, including scheduling, regulatory, and handling logistics for cannabinoids, psychedelics, and other scheduled compounds.

Quantifiable outcome

• Contributed to Dunad Therapeutics' $1.35 billion potential collaboration with Novartis for protein degradation therapeutics
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and standard.

• Cleveland Clinic Center for Therapeutics DiscoverycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026Collaboration on covalent drug discovery leveraging Dalriada's iCLASS platform for rapid hypothesis generation and target selection. Dalriada provides integrated expertise across covalent discovery, chemoproteomics, medicinal chemistry, protein science, biochemistry, biophysics, and cell biology to support programs from hit identification through hit-to-lead.
• Topos BiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026Research collaboration to accelerate experimental validation for intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) drug discovery using Dalriada's advanced protein mass spectrometry, proteomics, and iCLASS platform. Topos Bio leverages Dalriada's infrastructure to generate high-resolution data on protein-small molecule interactions for iterative drug design. IDPs are estimated to comprise 30-40% of the human proteome and are implicated in neurodegeneration and cancer.
• atai Life Sciences / InvyxiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2022Strategic collaboration with atai's new platform company Invyxis focused on developing next-generation small molecule therapies based on psychedelics and related compounds for mental health disorders. Initial focus on serotonin 5-HT2A receptor with other CNS targets to follow. Dalriada assumes responsibility for discovery R&D programs from hit identification through lead optimization to development candidate nomination.
• Antibe TherapeuticskeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 July 2021Strategic collaboration to develop new drug candidates targeting inflammation across a wide range of health conditions. Dalriada extends medicinal chemistry capabilities and accelerates screening, selection, and advancement of drug candidates for Antibe's hydrogen sulfide platform targeting inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other inflammatory conditions.
• SilcsBiokeyTechnology or Integration · 11 June 2020Formal partnership combining SilcsBio's computer-aided drug design (CADD) expertise with Dalriada's wet-lab capabilities. Initial focus on COVID-19 drug discovery using SILCS technology for structure-based design integrated with Dalriada's screening assays. Goal of accelerated hit identification, lead generation, and lead optimization cycles.
• Champignon BrandsstandardStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2020Collaboration to advance Champignon's new chemical entity (NCE) IP portfolio related to ketamine and psilocybin/psilicin molecular scaffolds. Dalriada leads drug discovery programs and provides integrated R&D support to accelerate preclinical asset development and proprietary delivery platforms.
• General InceptioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntegrated discovery partnership supporting multiple early-stage programs across targeted protein degradation, covalent inhibitors, and reversible small molecules. Dalriada acts as a working partner providing scientific judgment from program design through hit-to-lead, contributing to advancing brain-penetrant degrader leads. Model built for virtual and semi-virtual biotech company operations.
• SpiroChemkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration highlighted at Drug Discovery Chemistry 2026, involving joint discovery efforts in the chemistry space.
• Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing academic-industry collaboration for epigenetic chemical probe discovery and protein production. SGC is a global leader in structural biology and chemical probe development, with Dalriada having deep connections through its co-founder's background.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Sai Life Sciences: Sai Life Sciences is a growing India-based integrated CRO offering discovery, CMC and DMPK services. It pursues a similar market segment to Dalriada (small/medium biotechs needing integrated discovery support) and competes on price and scalability.
• Cyclica (now part of BenchSci): Cyclica is a Toronto-based AI-driven drug discovery company offering CADD and proteome-wide screening — partial overlap with Dalriada's CADD and chemoproteomics offerings, and a complementary partner for in silico discovery in the same Canadian ecosystem.
• Cerevel Therapeutics–style protein degradation CROs (e.g., Dunad/Nurix-adjacent): Specialized covalent and targeted protein degradation discovery providers and platform companies (Nurix Therapeutics, Kymera, Dunad itself) — they overlap with the modality expertise Dalriada sells as services, both as potential collaborators and competitors for TPD R&D work.

Broad incumbents

• WuXi AppTec: WuXi AppTec is a global CRO/CDMO with vast integrated drug discovery capabilities across medicinal chemistry, biology, DMPK and CADD. Its scale and breadth pose competitive pressure on mid-sized discovery CROs like Dalriada, particularly in serving US-based biotech clients.
• Eurofins Discovery: Eurofins Discovery Services is a large, broad CRO offering in vitro pharmacology, ADME, medicinal chemistry support and integrated drug discovery across many geographies — overlapping with Dalriada's service menu at the broad-CRO level.
• Charles River Laboratories: Charles River is a large, publicly traded CRO offering end-to-end discovery, preclinical and clinical services. Its Discovery & Safety division directly overlaps with Dalriada's preclinical CRO offering, though at significantly greater scale and across a broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• Selvita: Selvita is a Poland-based integrated drug discovery CRO offering medicinal chemistry, in vitro biology, DMPK and protein engineering services — closely paralleling Dalriada's Turn-Key model. Dalriada's Head of Programs Tom Coulter previously led Selvita's integrated drug discovery portfolio, indicating deep operational overlap.
• Evotec: Evotec is a global integrated drug discovery CRO with end-to-end capabilities spanning target ID through preclinical. Dalriada's Head of BD (Kaushik Ghosal) and Head of Programs (Tom Coulter) both previously held senior roles at Evotec, and the Turn-Key model directly mirrors Evotec's integrated offering.
• Sygnature Discovery: Sygnature is a UK-based integrated drug discovery CRO providing medicinal chemistry, DMPK, in vitro biology and computational chemistry services to virtual and semi-virtual biotech clients — essentially Dalriada's most direct international competitor with the same target customer profile.
• Pharmaron: Pharmaron offers fully integrated small molecule drug discovery services including medicinal chemistry, DMPK, in vitro pharmacology and CADD — competing head-to-head with Dalriada for biotech discovery outsourcing engagements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dalriada-drug-discovery
• Xx.com/dalriadatx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors4 records

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Dalriada Therapeutics