What Cyclenium Pharma does

Cyclenium Pharma Inc. is a privately held Montreal-based Contract Research Organization (CRO) specializing in macrocyclic drug discovery, founded between 2013 and 2015 by former management and research staff of Tranzyme Pharma following Tranzyme's merger with Ocera Therapeutics (now part of Mallinckrodt Plc) and the closure of its Canadian R&D site. In May 2023, the company was acquired by SpiroChem AG (Switzerland) — co-founded in 2011 by Cyclenium's current CEO Thomas Fessard — and now operates as SpiroChem's wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary.

The company's core asset is its proprietary CMRT™ (Customized Macrocycles for Recognition of Topologies) chemistry platform, supported by the QUEST Library of 50,000+ synthetic macrocyclic compounds and a modular synthesis methodology designed to deliver macrocyclic drug candidates with drug-like properties, specifically oral bioavailability and blood-brain barrier penetration. The platform is positioned to address targets traditionally considered difficult or undruggable, particularly protein-protein interactions. Leadership includes co-founders Helmut Thomas and Mark L. Peterson (now advisors) carrying 130+ and 85+ scientific publications respectively, with Peterson's patent portfolio from Tranzyme exceeding 120 patents and applications. The internal pipeline comprises three named programs: broad-spectrum anti-flaviviral inhibitors (funded in part by a May 2020 U.S. Department of Defense grant), a cystic fibrosis novel-target program, and biased-signaling opioid receptor agonists for PTSD and anxiety disorders.

Cyclenium's business model rests on three revenue streams: collaborative drug discovery agreements with pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners (e.g., Ono Pharmaceutical Japan, AiCuris Germany, Haplogen Austria, Vuja De Sciences U.S., Hospital for Sick Children Toronto), contract research services using the CMRT platform and QUEST library on a fee-for-service basis, and out-licensing of proprietary pipeline programs alongside in-licensing of complementary assets. Engagement terms are negotiated on a bespoke, quote-based, multi-year basis; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company has 1-10 employees, has received grant funding from FFG, NRC IRAP, EUREKA, and the U.S. Department of Defense, and operates with a global reach spanning North America, Europe, and Asia.

Name

Cyclenium Pharma

Legal name

Cyclenium Pharma Inc.

Website

https://cyclenium.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cyclenium Pharma is a Montreal-based Contract Research Organization specializing in macrocyclic drug discovery, deploying its proprietary CMRT™ platform and 50,000+ compound QUEST library to deliver orally bioavailable, blood-brain-barrier-penetrant drug candidates against challenging targets for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and academic partners worldwide, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of SpiroChem AG.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Research / Drug Discovery Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411)

SIC

Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Bioanalytical & Biomarker CROs (PK/PD/Immunogenicity) (HLAGAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pharmacovigilance, Risk Management & Medical Affairs CROs (HLAGAAAH), Regulatory Strategy & Global Submissions (IND/CTA/NDA/BLA/MAA) (HLAGAKAA)

Keywords

• Macrocyclic drug discovery
• Contract research services
• Medicinal chemistry services
• Small molecule therapeutics
• Drug discovery platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Drug Discovery Collaborations & Out-Licensing: Revenue generated through collaborative drug discovery agreements with pharmaceutical and biotech partners (e.g., Vuja De Sciences, AiCuris, Haplogen Biosciences, Ono Pharmaceutical) that combine research fees, milestone payments, and potential royalties/out-licensing of proprietary pipeline programs (anti-flaviviral, cystic fibrosis, opioid receptor agonists).
2. Contract Research Services: Provision of contract research and custom macrocyclic chemistry services leveraging the CMRT platform and QUEST library to support external drug discovery programs on a project/fee-for-service basis.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cyclenium Pharma is a Contract Research Organization (CRO) that deploys its proprietary CMRT (Customized Macrocycles for Recognition of Topologies) chemistry platform — supported by the QUEST screening library of 50,000+ synthetic macrocyclic compounds — to deliver macrocyclic drug discovery services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The company provides hit identification, lead optimization, and medicinal chemistry services, while also advancing an internal pipeline of macrocyclic therapeutic programs (anti-flaviviral, cystic fibrosis, opioid receptor agonists) available for out-licensing.

Product overview

Cyclenium Pharma is a Contract Research Organization (CRO) and macrocyclic drug discovery company organized around a single proprietary platform — its CMRT™ (Customized Macrocycles for Recognition of Topologies) technology — which serves as the core engine that powers both its internal pipeline and partner-facing offerings. The CMRT platform is supported by the QUEST Library, a proprietary macrocyclic compound collection used for high-throughput screening, and feeds the Collaborative Drug Discovery Services that Cyclenium offers to partners as a CRO. Output from the platform is also advanced into discrete out-licensing programs (broad-spectrum anti-flaviviral agents, a cystic fibrosis novel-target program, and biased-signaling opioid receptor agonists for PTSD and anxiety disorders), while an In-Licensing Opportunities function rounds out the portfolio by bringing in external assets. Together, the CMRT platform, QUEST Library, discovery services, out-licensing programs, and in-licensing function form a single integrated architecture in which the platform and library generate chemical matter and leads that are either progressed internally, partnered through the CRO services, or made available to other companies via out-licensing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CMRT Technology (Customized Macrocycles for Recognition of Topologies) Proprietary macrocyclic chemistry platform that enables the discovery and optimization of novel macrocyclic drug candidates with drug-like properties including oral bioavailability and blood-brain barrier penetration. The technology powers Cyclenium's internal pipeline and collaborative drug discovery programs for pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners.
• QUEST Library Proprietary macrocyclic compound library of 50,000+ synthetic macrocyclic compounds designed for high-throughput screening against biological targets, providing the chemical matter that feeds into the CMRT discovery workflow.
• Collaborative Drug Discovery Services Full-service macrocyclic drug discovery offerings provided to partners as a Contract Research Organization (CRO), covering hit identification, lead optimization, and medicinal chemistry, leveraging the CMRT platform and QUEST Library.
• Broad spectrum anti-flaviviral agents program Preclinical macrocyclic program targeting broad-spectrum anti-flaviviral activity, available for out-licensing to partners.
• Cystic fibrosis novel target program Discovery program applying the CMRT platform to a novel target strategy for cystic fibrosis, with assets available for out-licensing to partners.
• Biased signaling opioid receptor agonist program Discovery effort focused on biased-signaling opioid receptor agonists being developed for the treatment of PTSD and anxiety disorders, available for out-licensing.
• In-Licensing Opportunities Program through which Cyclenium evaluates and in-licenses external macrocyclic and complementary small-molecule assets to expand its pipeline and partnership portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• QUEST screening library of 50,000+ synthetic macrocyclic compounds enables broad hit-identification coverage
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• SpiroChem AGflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023SpiroChem AG (Switzerland) acquired Cyclenium Pharma in May 2023, making Cyclenium a wholly-owned subsidiary. SpiroChem provides chemistry infrastructure and capital backing for ongoing R&D and partnerships.
• Vuja De SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 January 2022Drug discovery collaboration announced January 5, 2022 with U.S.-based Vuja De Sciences for macrocyclic drug discovery leveraging the CMRT platform.
• AiCuris (Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2018Drug discovery collaboration announced October 1, 2018 with German anti-infective company AiCuris to identify macrocyclic anti-infective candidates.
• Haplogen Biosciences (Austria)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2018Collaboration on pan-flaviviral therapeutics announced September 2018; project received EUREKA label status recognizing it as an internationally collaborative R&D effort.
• Ono Pharmaceutical (Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 December 2017Drug discovery collaboration announced December 12, 2017 with Japanese pharmaceutical company Ono Pharmaceutical.
• Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), TorontominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 March 2017Research agreement announced March 7, 2017 with The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto to support collaborative research using the CMRT platform.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Eurofins Discovery: Discovery services arm of Eurofins offering medicinal chemistry, in vitro pharmacology, ADME, and related services. Comparable to Cyclenium as a competing provider of chemistry-driven drug discovery services to pharma and biotech.
• Charles River Laboratories: Major global CRO providing drug discovery, safety assessment, and manufacturing services. Comparable as an established contract research provider whose Discovery Services segment competes for the same pharma/biotech chemistry and discovery outsourcing budgets that Cyclenium targets.
• Labcorp Drug Development (Fortrea): Large CRO offering a full suite of drug discovery and development services including medicinal chemistry, in vitro biology, and DMPK. Comparable as a competing CRO that pharma/biotech can engage instead of Cyclenium for outsourced discovery work.
• WuXi AppTec: Global CRO/CDMO offering comprehensive drug discovery and development services including medicinal chemistry, custom synthesis, and library synthesis. Comparable as a competing provider of contract chemistry services to pharma and biotech, though at vastly greater scale and with a broader modality footprint than Cyclenium.
• SpiroChem AG: Parent company of Cyclenium Pharma and a Swiss fine chemicals company specializing in building blocks, scaffolds, and process chemistry. It is directly comparable as it shares the same founder/CEO (Thomas Fessard) and now operates the CMRT platform through its Cyclenium subsidiary.

Others

• Tranzyme Pharma (predecessor): Predecessor organization of Cyclenium, founded by the same team, which pioneered macrocyclic chemistry and 50,000+ compound screening libraries. Comparable as the historical reference point for Cyclenium's technology and team lineage, though it no longer exists as an independent operating company.

Emerging players

• Domainex: UK-based CRO offering integrated drug discovery services including medicinal chemistry, in vitro biology, and ADME. Comparable to Cyclenium as a small-to-mid sized specialized CRO that competes for pharma/biotech discovery contracts with chemistry-centric services.

Direct peers

• PharmaBlock Sciences: Provider of innovative building blocks, custom synthesis, and drug discovery services with deep expertise in scaffold chemistry. Comparable to Cyclenium as a chemistry-focused CRO serving pharma/biotech partners with specialized chemical matter and discovery capabilities.
• Sai Life Sciences: India-based CRO/CDMO offering drug discovery, custom synthesis, and development services. Comparable to Cyclenium as a mid-sized chemistry CRO serving global pharma partners with contract discovery and medicinal chemistry capabilities.
• ChemPartner: China-based CRO providing integrated drug discovery services with strength in medicinal chemistry, custom synthesis, and biology. Comparable to Cyclenium as a similarly-sized chemistry-focused CRO serving global pharma and biotech partners with discovery services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cyclenium-pharma-inc-/about

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Cyclenium Pharma