Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry

What Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry does

The Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IBCh RAS) is a federal state-funded research institution headquartered in Moscow, with a branch in Pushchino founded in 1979. Established in 1959 by M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov, the institute is subordinate to the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. It operates 18 scientific departments and more than 70 research laboratories, employing over 1,300 staff including more than 700 scientific researchers (over 80 D.Sc. and approximately 300 Ph.D.), with 15 members of the Russian Academy of Sciences on staff.

IBCh RAS conducts fundamental and applied research across physicochemical biology and biotechnology, with core competencies in bioorganic chemistry, molecular biology, biochemistry, neurobiology, genomics, and bioinformatics. Distinctive technical capabilities include systematic investigation of venoms from 50+ species yielding 150+ characterized toxins (136 first-time characterizations), proprietary cell-free expression systems for integral membrane proteins using membrane mimetics (micelles, bicelles, liposomes, lipid-protein nanodiscs), recombinant protein engineering for toxins, antibodies, cytokines and membrane proteins, and in silico molecular modeling supported by multi-CPU Linux clusters and the proprietary PLATINUM web-tool for molecular hydrophobicity potential analysis. Research outputs include approximately 400 peer-reviewed publications annually in international journals, two analgesic drug candidates that have completed preclinical trials, and patent-protected antimicrobial peptide prototypes (latarcins).

The institute's business model is anchored in state budget allocations from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, supplemented by collaborative research contracts and technology transfer agreements with pharmaceutical and agricultural industry partners (including Monsanto, Bayer, Zeneka, and DuPont). GMP-compliant preclinical testing services are offered through the Biocenter facility at the Pushchino branch, and limited revenue is generated through educational programs at the Science-Educational Center, which trains over 250 advanced students annually. Distribution is primarily through direct contractual relationships with industry and international academic collaborators, with no commercial product sales or marketing channel typical of commercial entities.

Name

Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry

Legal name

Federal State Budgetary Institution of Science State Scientific Center of the Russian Federation Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry named after academics M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Website

https://ibch.ru

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry (IBCh RAS) is a Russian federal state research institute under the Russian Academy of Sciences conducting fundamental and applied research in physicochemical biology and biotechnology. It serves pharmaceutical and agricultural companies, academic collaborators, and the Russian government through specialized molecular biology, neurobiology, and protein engineering research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biotechnology Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Medical Laboratories (621511), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAGAI

Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Medical & Health Sciences Universities

SECONDARYHLAFAMAL

Clinical Research & Trial Central Laboratories

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Clinical Laboratories

SECONDARYHLAAAIAD

Synthetic Biology & Genetic Circuit Design Platforms (pathway engineering, chassis development)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Biotechnology & Biologics/Biologic Drug Discovery Platforms (screening, antibody engineering, synthetic biology)

Keywords

• Bioorganic chemistry research
• Molecular biology studies
• Preclinical drug testing
• Protein engineering research
• Biotechnology research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Moscow

HQ country

Russia

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Government funding: State-funded research under the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, supporting fundamental scientific research and development activities
2. Research collaborations and contracts: Collaborative research with pharmaceutical companies (Monsanto, Bayer, Zeneka, DuPont), technology transfer, and licensing of research results and patents
3. Preclinical testing services: The institute conducts preclinical trials of medicines following international GMP requirements through its Biocenter facility
4. Education and training: Science-Educational Center providing training for students and postgraduates from Russian universities, generating limited revenue through educational programs

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry is a federal state-funded research institution that conducts fundamental and applied research in physicochemical biology and biotechnology, with focus areas including peptides, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, membrane biology, neurobiology, genomics, and bioinformatics. Its outputs include recombinant proteins, novel molecular tools for neuroscience, systematic characterization of natural toxins, and preclinical drug testing services, supported by more than 70 specialized laboratories and over 700 researchers. The institute additionally operates an Educational-Scientific Center providing graduate and postgraduate training in bioorganic chemistry and biotechnology.

Product overview

The Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry (IBCh RAS) is a federal state budget research institution under the Russian Academy of Sciences. It is not a product company but rather conducts fundamental and applied scientific research in physicochemical biology and biotechnology. The institute consists of 18 scientific departments (more than 70 research laboratories) and employs more than 1300 people including researchers focused on molecular biology, biochemistry, bioorganic chemistry, and related fields. While the institute produces research outputs and has developed various methodologies and potential therapeutic candidates (such as recombinant proteins, antibodies, and molecular tools), no commercial products or services are offered for sale. The institute's work includes venom/toxin research, ion channel studies, protein engineering, genomics, and bioluminescence research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Preclinical Testing Services (Biocenter)
• Educational-Scientific Center Training Programs
• Joint Research Collaboration Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Two potential analgesic drug candidates successfully completed preclinical trials
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU LeuvencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration with Professor Jan Tytgat's laboratory for study of natural venoms and molecular instruments for neuroscience research
• University Hospital of ColognecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Professor Tim Hucho on Experimental Anesthesiology and Pain Research
• Stanford University (Maduke Lab)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Professor Merritt Maduke on molecular mechanisms of channelopathies
• University College London (Kullmann Lab)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Professor Dimitri Kullmann on neuroscience and ion channel research
• Columbia University (Sobolevsky Lab)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Professor Alexander Sobolevsky on structural biology of ion channels
• MonsantominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint scientific research collaborations on bioactive compounds for agricultural applications
• BayerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint scientific research collaborations on pharmaceutical compounds
• ZenekaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint scientific research collaborations on pharmaceutical compounds
• DuPontminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint scientific research collaborations on bioactive compounds
• Institute of Structural Biology (Grenoble, France)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on determination of spatial structure of proteorhodopsin from Exiguobacterium sibiricum
• Faculty of Biology of Moscow State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration on protein engineering and molecular bioengineering research
• University of CopenhagencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration on protein engineering
• University of California at IrvinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration on protein engineering
• Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry (Sechenov)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with corresponding member RAS L. Magazannik on neuroscience research
• Federal Scientific Clinical Center of Physicochemical MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with academician V.M. Govorun on molecular research

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves5 records

Broad incumbents

• Pasteur Institute: French nonprofit research institute focused on infectious disease, microbiology, immunology, and developmental biology. Comparable as a long-standing basic research institute with translational activities and educational mission.
• European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL): Intergovernmental research organization in molecular life sciences with sites across Europe. Comparable as a peer organization offering advanced research infrastructure, life sciences platforms, and translation services.
• Scripps Research Institute: US-based nonprofit research organization focused on biomedical sciences, drug discovery, and chemical biology. Comparable as a large-scale research institute with similar domain expertise in bioorganic chemistry, neuroscience, and translational biology.

Direct peers

• Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics: German government-funded research institute focused on molecular and cellular biology. Comparable as a basic research institute with comparable scale, talent density, and focus on molecular biology and biochemistry.
• MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology: UK-based world-leading research institute in molecular biology, structural biology, and neurobiology. Comparable as a globally renowned government-funded research institute with comparable scale and focus on protein/structural biology, membrane proteins, and neurobiology.
• Shemyakin–Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry (note: same entity, alternative branches): Self-reference; not a peer. (Omitted equivalent.)
• Francis Crick Institute: UK-based biomedical research institute with ~1500+ scientists focused on molecular biology, neuroscience, and translational research. Comparable as a public-interest research institute with similar headcount, research breadth, and contribution to fundamental biology.

Regional players

• Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS: Russian state research institute under the Siberian Branch of RAS conducting chemical biology, molecular biology, and biomedical research. Comparable as a peer state-funded life science research institute operating in Russia with overlapping focus on nucleic acids, proteins, and translational biology.
• Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology: Leading Russian state institute under RAS focused on molecular biology, genomics, and biotechnology. Comparable as a domestic peer in physicochemical biology and biotechnology research with similar scientific scope and federal funding model.
• Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (CAS): Chinese Academy of Sciences institute conducting molecular biology, biochemistry, and cell biology research. Comparable as a state-funded research institute with comparable scale and focus on physicochemical biology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xt.me/ibchRu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ibchSmu
• Facebookfacebook.com/ibch.ru
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shemyakin-ovchinnikov-institute-of-bioorganic-chemistry-ras

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry