SB Drug Discovery
Sygnature Discovery (incorporating SB Drug Discovery) is a UK-headquartered contract research organization providing integrated drug discovery services to biotech and pharmaceutical companies, deploying 700+ scientists across seven scientific disciplines, five modalities, and four therapeutic areas with UK and Canadian operations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersGlasgow, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SB Drug Discovery does
Sygnature Discovery (which fully integrated SB Drug Discovery as part of a 2024 brand consolidation) is a privately held UK-headquartered contract research organization (CRO) delivering integrated drug discovery services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Founded in 2003 by Dr. Simon Hirst and headquartered at BioCity in Nottingham, the company has grown to 700+ scientists from over 50 countries working across European (Nottingham) and North American (Montréal, through NuChem Sciences) operations.
The platform centers on co-located, interdisciplinary program teams spanning seven scientific solution pillars—Computer Aided Drug Design (including the proprietary SygDesign informatics platform), Protein Science and Structural Biology (with in-house X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM and NMR), Bioscience, Chemistry, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, in vivo Pharmacology, and Form and Formulation. These capabilities are organized around five therapeutic modalities (small molecules, peptides, targeted protein degradation via proprietary CHARMED technology, antibody drug conjugates, and biologics), three target class specializations (ion channels, GPCRs, transporters), and four therapeutic areas (oncology, inflammation and immunology, neuroscience, and metabolic disease). Generative AI and machine learning, including integration with the Iktos Makya platform and a 2024 collaboration with AI vendor DaltonTx, are embedded into routine medicinal chemistry and de novo design workflows alongside traditional wet-lab science.
Revenue is generated through fee-for-service, project-based contract research engagements sold via direct enterprise sales to biotech and pharmaceutical decision-makers, typically structured as multi-year contracts with no public pricing disclosures. The company reports 200+ active projects, 60+ candidates advanced since 2011 (including 23 preclinical and 36 clinical assets, with two approved drugs—one of which is the FDA-approved therapy Lifyorli/relacorilant for ovarian cancer), 200+ patents filed, and over 90% customer retention. Sygnature has built its footprint through three wholly-owned acquisitions (Peak Proteins, NuChem Sciences, and SB Drug Discovery) that were fully consolidated under the Sygnature Discovery brand by 2024; no external funding rounds, private equity backing, or public listings are disclosed in available sources.
SB Drug Discovery firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SB Drug Discovery
- Legal name
- Sygnature Discovery Limited
- Website
- https://sbdrugdiscovery.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sygnature Discovery (incorporating SB Drug Discovery) is a UK-headquartered contract research organization providing integrated drug discovery services to biotech and pharmaceutical companies, deploying 700+ scientists across seven scientific disciplines, five modalities, and four therapeutic areas with UK and Canadian operations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SB Drug Discovery industry classification
Industry- 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 industry
- Drug Discovery (Target ID/Validation & Hit Discovery) (HLAIALAA)
Keywords
Where SB Drug Discovery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Glasgow
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
SB Drug Discovery business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Contract Research Services: Fee-for-service contract research organisation providing drug discovery services to biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Services range from fully integrated discovery programs to targeted project support across scientific disciplines including CADD, medicinal chemistry, DMPK, in vivo pharmacology, and formulation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based pricing for integrated or standalone drug discovery services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
SB Drug Discovery product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SB Drug Discovery is a contract research services company offering expertise in compound screening, now operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary integrated into Sygnature Discovery. It contributes to an integrated drug discovery platform delivering programs from target identification through pre-clinical development, spanning computer-aided drug design, medicinal and synthetic chemistry, bioscience, DMPK, in vivo pharmacology, and formulation services to biotech and pharmaceutical clients.
Product overview
Sygnature Discovery (which has integrated Peak Proteins, NuChem Sciences, and SB Drug Discovery) operates as a contract research organization offering a comprehensive, platform-based drug discovery portfolio. The core offering is Integrated Drug Discovery, supported by seven scientific solution pillars: Computer Aided Drug Design (CADD), Protein Science and Structural Biology, Bioscience, Chemistry, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK), in vivo Pharmacology, and Form and Formulation. These scientific solutions are organized around five therapeutic modalities (Small Molecules, Peptides, Targeted Protein Degradation, ADCs, and Biologics), three target class specializations (Ion Channels, GPCRs, Transporters), and four therapeutic areas (Oncology, Inflammation and Immunology, Neuroscience, Metabolic Diseases). The platform combines AI-powered tools including Generative AI/Machine Learning for de novo molecular design and proprietary informatics like SygDesign, with traditional laboratory sciences to deliver compounds from target identification through pre-clinical development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Compound Screening Services
- Integrated Drug Discovery
Quantifiable outcome
- 60+ candidates advanced to preclinical and clinical stages since 2011, including 23 preclinical and 36 clinical assets with 2 approved
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use SB Drug Discovery
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
SB Drug Discovery technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature5 records
SB Drug Discovery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- DaltonTxcoreStrategic collaboration with DaltonTx, an AI technology company, to advance AI-enabled drug discovery capabilities. This partnership strengthens Sygnature Discovery's artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities for drug design programs.
- IktoscoreCollaboration using Iktos Makya, a leading generative AI platform for de novo drug design. This technology enables rapid generation of novel compound ideas to address project objectives in medicinal chemistry programs.
- STORM TherapeuticscoreSuccessfully delivered DHX9 inhibitor program, achieving lead to pre-candidate nomination in 18 months (less than half industry standard). Featured as flagship case study demonstrating integrated drug discovery capabilities.
- Corcept TherapeuticscoreDelivered clinical candidate for cortisol regulation drug discovery program. Corcept Therapeutics, based in Menlo Park, CA, is a leader in discovering and developing drugs that regulate cortisol effects.
- CellCentriccoreLead optimisation collaboration for CCS1477/inobrodib, a first-in-class epigenetic cancer therapy. Inobrodib is now showing promising results in Phase I/II trials for multiple myeloma and other cancer types.
- SitryxminorEmpowered startup biotech company Sitryx with drug discovery program support, helping turn ground-breaking immunological ideas into medicines despite limited initial resources.
- NuChem SciencescoreFully integrated with NuChem Sciences as part of the Sygnature Discovery group. NuChem Sciences operates from Montreal, Canada (201-2350 Rue Cohen, Montréal, Québec H4R 2N6), expanding capabilities across North America.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SB Drug Discovery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Evotec SE: Hamburg-based integrated drug discovery CRO offering target ID through preclinical services to biotech and pharma. Directly comparable to Sygnature in service menu (medicinal chemistry, DMPK, in vivo pharmacology, structural biology) and customer base.
- Pharmaron: China/UK-headquartered CRO providing integrated drug discovery and preclinical services including medicinal chemistry, DMPK, and in vivo pharmacology. Closely matches Sygnature's integrated discovery model and therapeutic area coverage.
- Domainex: UK-based integrated drug discovery CRO offering medicinal chemistry, in vitro pharmacology, and DMPK services. Comparable in scale and service model to Sygnature, particularly for European biotech clients.
- Reaction Biology: US-based preclinical CRO offering discovery services including assay development, screening, and medicinal chemistry. Comparable in preclinical CRO positioning, though with different geographic focus.
Broad incumbents
- Charles River Laboratories: Large-scale CRO offering discovery, preclinical, and clinical services globally. Overlaps with Sygnature in preclinical pharmacology, DMPK, and structural biology, but with significantly broader portfolio and scale.
- Labcorp Drug Development (formerly Covance): Global CRO with comprehensive early-stage discovery through clinical services. Comparable to Sygnature in early discovery services but serves clients through much larger enterprise sales infrastructure.
- WuXi AppTec: China-headquartered contract research organization with extensive drug discovery and preclinical capabilities. Competes with Sygnature in medicinal chemistry, DMPK, and in vivo services for global pharma and biotech.
Emerging players
- Schrödinger, Inc. Computational drug discovery platform combining physics-based simulation with ML for molecular design. Comparable to Sygnature's CADD/AI capabilities but differentiates through software-first, asset-light business model.
- Recursion Pharmaceuticals: AI-driven drug discovery company using high-throughput biology and ML. Partial overlap with Sygnature's AI-native discovery positioning, though Recursion focuses on internal pipeline rather than fee-for-service.
- Exscientia: AI-native precision medicine company with end-to-end discovery capabilities. Overlaps with Sygnature on GenAI/ML-driven drug design and integrated discovery, but operates hybrid CRO/asset model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SB Drug Discovery social profiles
Digital presenceSB Drug Discovery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SB Drug Discovery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
SB Drug Discovery subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
SB Drug Discovery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SB Drug Discovery 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 SB Drug Discovery
What does SB Drug Discovery do?
SB Drug Discovery is a contract research services company offering expertise in compound screening, now operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary integrated into Sygnature Discovery. It contributes to an integrated drug discovery platform delivering programs from target identification through pre-clinical development, spanning computer-aided drug design, medicinal and synthetic chemistry, bioscience, DMPK, in vivo pharmacology, and formulation services to biotech and pharmaceutical clients.
Is SB Drug Discovery a public or private company?
SB Drug Discovery is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was SB Drug Discovery founded?
SB Drug Discovery was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SB Drug Discovery based?
SB Drug Discovery is headquartered in Glasgow, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does SB Drug Discovery make money?
One revenue line is on record: contract Research Services.
Who are SB Drug Discovery's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Evotec SE, Pharmaron, Domainex and Reaction Biology. Broad incumbents are Charles River Laboratories, Labcorp Drug Development (formerly Covance) and WuXi AppTec. Emerging players are Schrödinger, Inc., Recursion Pharmaceuticals and Exscientia.
Does SB Drug Discovery have an API?
No public API is recorded for SB Drug Discovery.
What industry is SB Drug Discovery in?
SB Drug Discovery's product category is Drug Discovery Contract Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAAAB, Preclinical CROs (Discovery/Pharmacology/DMPK), with a secondary code of HLAIALAA, Drug Discovery (Target ID/Validation & Hit Discovery). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.