What Porsolt does

Porsolt SAS is a privately held French preclinical contract research organization (CRO) founded in 1985 and headquartered in Le Genest-Saint-Isle, France. The company provides drug discovery, efficacy evaluation, safety pharmacology, and toxicology services to pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, academic institutions, foundations, and not-for-profits, working with hundreds of clients worldwide and performing hundreds of studies annually. It operates over 70,000 square feet of purpose-built laboratory space, holds continuous GLP A-Grade compliance (maintained since 2000) and AAALAC International accreditation, and serves as a one-stop shop across the preclinical drug development workflow.

Its service portfolio spans more than 15 therapeutic areas (cardiovascular, CNS, dermatology, GI, inflammation, liver, oncology, obesity/metabolic, pain, respiratory, thrombosis, urogenital) and core platforms including in vivo and in vitro pharmacology, drug discovery services, general toxicology, predictive toxicity, pharmacokinetics, safety regulatory packages, and medical device testing. Supporting capabilities include preclinical formulation analysis, biomarker assays (ELISA, HTRF, flow cytometry, multiplexed detection), cell and tissue banking (including hiPSC-derived cells and proprietary biosensors), and quantitative image processing. The technical stack comprises HPLC, FLIPR Tetra high-throughput cellular screening, high-content and live-content imaging, automated flow cytometry, in vivo telemetry systems, and multimodal in vivo imaging. More than 30% of staff hold postgraduate qualifications, with over 150 years of combined scientific experience and more than 35 years of institutional memory.

Porsolt operates a B2B project-based services model, generating revenue from customized preclinical study contracts. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Its go-to-market relies on direct enterprise sales through international offices and local representatives, with a scientist-to-scientist engagement model providing clients direct access to scientific experts. The company has no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, and no M&A activity, operating as an independent standalone entity. Its primary named external partnership is a supply agreement with the French Blood Bank for fresh donor blood used in preclinical assays.

Name

Porsolt

Legal name

Porsolt SAS

Website

https://porsolt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Porsolt SAS is a privately held French preclinical CRO founded in 1985, providing drug discovery, efficacy evaluation, and safety pharmacology services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, academic, and non-profit clients across 15-plus therapeutic areas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Preclinical Contract Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

In Vivo Pharmacology (Efficacy/PD Models) (HLAGAFAA), Safety Pharmacology (Cardio/CNS/Respiratory) (HLAGAFAB), DMPK / ADME & Bioanalysis (HLAGAFAC), Nonclinical Study Management & Regulatory Writing (IND-enabling) (HLAGAFAN)

Keywords

• Preclinical CRO services
• Drug discovery research
• Safety pharmacology studies
• Efficacy evaluation services
• Toxicology testing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Le Genest

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Research Services: Porsolt generates revenue through preclinical contract research organization services including drug discovery, screening, efficacy evaluation, and safety testing. Services span in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo models across multiple therapeutic areas. Revenue is project-based, with studies tailored to client specifications across early screening through regulatory submission phases.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Porsolt is a preclinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) that delivers drug discovery, screening, efficacy evaluation, and safety pharmacology services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, academic, and non-profit clients. Its work spans in vitro, in ovo, ex vivo, and in vivo models across 15+ therapeutic areas (cardiovascular, CNS, dermatology, GI, inflammation, liver, oncology, obesity/metabolic, pain, respiratory, thrombosis, urogenital) and is supported by pharmacokinetics, predictive toxicity, general toxicology, medical device testing, formulation analysis, biomarker assays, cell and tissue banking, and image-processing capabilities executed in GLP-compliant, AAALAC-accredited laboratories.

Product overview

Porsolt is a global preclinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) established in 1985, providing comprehensive drug discovery and development services. The company offers a unified portfolio of therapeutic area-specific services (cardiovascular, CNS, dermatology, GI, inflammation, liver, oncology, obesity/metabolic, pain, respiratory, thrombosis, urogenital) combined with core preclinical service platforms including in vivo pharmacology, in vitro pharmacology, drug discovery services, general toxicology, in vitro toxicity testing, and predictive toxicity. Supporting services include pharmacokinetics, safety regulatory package (GLP), medical device testing, formulation analysis, biomarker assays, cell & tissue banks, and image processing & data analysis. Porsolt operates over 70,000 sq ft of laboratory facility space with GLP compliance and AAALAC accreditation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cardiovascular System Services Preclinical cardiovascular research services including models for assessing compound effects on the cardiovascular system, delivered for pharmaceutical and biotech sponsors.
• Central Nervous System Services Preclinical CNS research services covering neurological disorder models and CNS drug development studies for pharma, biotech, and academic clients.
• Dermatology Services Preclinical dermatology research services for skin conditions and dermatological therapeutics, executed through in vivo and in vitro models.
• Gastro-Intestinal System Services Preclinical GI research services including models for gastrointestinal motility, emesis, and intestinal disorders, run for drug development sponsors.
• Inflammation Services Preclinical inflammation research using in vivo and in vitro models for inflammatory disease drug development.
• Liver & Hepatic System Services Preclinical liver research including hepatotoxicity models, liver fibrosis, and hepatic function assessment for safety and efficacy programs.
• Oncology Services Preclinical oncology research including tumor models, immuno-oncology, and cancer therapeutic assessment studies.
• Obesity & Metabolic Disorder Services Preclinical research for obesity, diabetes, and metabolic disorders using animal models and bioanalysis.
• Pain Services Preclinical pain research models including acute, inflammatory, neuropathic, and chronic pain models for analgesic development.
• Respiratory System Services Preclinical respiratory research including asthma, cough, fibrosis, and bronchospasm models for respiratory drug development.
• Thrombosis Services Preclinical thrombosis research including arterial and venous thrombosis models and deep vein thrombosis assessment.
• Urogenital System Services Preclinical urogenital research including bladder function, renal function, and genital system models.
• Medical Device Testing Services Preclinical medical device testing including cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, irritation, skin sensitization, and toxicity assessments.
• In Vivo Pharmacology In vivo preclinical studies using living organisms to assess compound efficacy and safety across therapeutic areas, executed under GLP, AAALAC, and OECD guidelines.
• In Vitro Pharmacology In vitro preclinical studies using isolated cells, tissues, and assays for compound screening and mechanism studies.
• Drug Discovery Services Comprehensive drug discovery and development services including high-throughput screening, in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, toxicology, pharmacokinetics, ADME-Tox, and formulation development across therapeutic areas.
• General Toxicology Studies General toxicology studies including acute, chronic, and dose-finding toxicology assessments executed under GLP conditions.
• In Vitro Toxicity Testing In vitro toxicity testing including cytotoxicity assays, genotoxicity tests, and organ-specific toxicity evaluation.
• Predictive Toxicity Services Predictive toxicity testing including cardiotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity assessments.
• Pharmacokinetics Services Preclinical pharmacokinetic studies analyzing ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) properties in multiple species.
• Safety Regulatory Package GLP-compliant safety pharmacology studies including behavioral pharmacology, core battery ICH S7, and supplemental studies supporting regulatory submissions.
• Preclinical Formulation Analysis Formulation analysis services including method development, validation, stability evaluation, and homogeneity testing for preclinical dosing formulations.
• Biomarker Assays Biomarker detection and analysis including clinical chemistry, coagulation, hematology, and immunoassays (ELISA, HTRF, flow cytometry, multiplexed detection).
• Cell & Tissue Banks Access to cell lines, primary cell cultures (rodent and human), human iPSC-derived cells, cancer cell lines, proprietary biosensors, artificial 3D microtissues, and human/animal tissue samples for preclinical research.
• Image Processing & Data Analysis Quantitative image analysis and data processing for histology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, high-content imaging, and neuronal biology feature extraction.

Quantifiable outcome

• Maintained GLP A-Grade status continuously for more than 20 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• French Blood BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupply agreement for fresh blood from healthy donors used in preclinical research studies. This partnership provides essential biological materials for in vitro and ex vivo assay development and execution.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Crown Bioscience: Preclinical CRO specializing in oncology and metabolic disease in vivo models; directly comparable to Porsolt's oncology and obesity/metabolic disorder service lines.
• Inotiv: U.S.-based preclinical CRO focused on safety assessment, toxicology, and research models; directly competes with Porsolt on GLP toxicology and in vivo pharmacology for pharma/biotech sponsors.
• Evotec: European-headquartered contract research provider offering preclinical in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, safety, and DMPK services to pharma and biotech clients; highly comparable service mix and customer profile to Porsolt.
• Pharmaron: Integrated CRO/CDMO offering preclinical drug discovery, in vitro/in vivo pharmacology, DMPK, and safety assessment globally; overlaps with Porsolt's efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics service lines.

Broad incumbents

• Charles River Laboratories: Global CRO with the largest preclinical and safety assessment franchise; competes directly with Porsolt in safety pharmacology, general toxicology, and in vivo efficacy studies across many of the same therapeutic areas.
• Eurofins Scientific: Large bioanalytical and preclinical testing group; competes with Porsolt in bioanalysis, biomarker assays, and selected in vitro/in vivo safety work for pharma clients.
• WuXi AppTec: Global CRO/CDMO with extensive preclinical capabilities spanning DMPK, safety pharmacology, and in vivo models; serves the same pharma/biotech customer base with broader geographic reach.
• ICON plc: Global CRO with preclinical and clinical offerings; competes with Porsolt on early-phase safety and translational pharmacology, especially for integrated programs.
• Labcorp Drug Development (formerly Covance): One of the largest global CROs offering end-to-end preclinical and clinical services; competes with Porsolt for safety pharmacology and toxicology work, particularly from large pharma accounts.

Emerging players

• Bionova Scientific: Mid-sized preclinical CRO with capabilities in biologics safety and analytical services; an emerging alternative for sponsors seeking smaller, science-driven preclinical partners comparable to Porsolt.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/porsolt

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Porsolt