Center for Drug Discovery
Center for Drug Discovery is a multidisciplinary academic research center at Northeastern University, founded 2003, focused on medicinal chemistry, GPCRs, and the endocannabinoid system to discover new therapeutic medications, serving biotech and pharmaceutical drug-development partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Center for Drug Discovery does
The Center for Drug Discovery (CDD), also known as CDD, is a multidisciplinary academic research center founded in 2003 within Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, and directed by Professor Alexandros Makriyannis. The center conducts translational biomedicine aimed at discovering new therapeutic medications, with a concentration in medicinal chemistry, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), enzyme drug targets, and the endocannabinoid system. It serves the biomedical research and drug development ecosystem across therapeutic areas including pain and inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, neuropsychiatric disorders, drug abuse and addiction, metabolic disorders, and cancer.
Operationally, CDD is organized around five interconnected research laboratories: Medicinal Chemistry (target-based drug design, molecular modeling, lead optimization, and synthetic scale-up), Biochemistry (in vitro/in vivo assay design using mass spectroscopy, radiometrics, fluorometrics, UV and HPLC), Biophysics (solution and solid-state NMR-based protein structure and drug-membrane interaction analysis), Behavioral Pharmacology (in-vivo rodent models for drug discrimination, locomotor activity, and analgesia), and Molecular Pharmacology (GPCR structure-based drug design and characterization). Notable technical outputs include the 2.8 Å crystal structure of the human CB1 receptor bound to the antagonist AM6538 (published in Cell, 2016) and agonist-bound CB1 structures with AM11542 and AM841 (published in Nature, 2017), alongside proprietary compounds and a Ligand Assisted Protein Structure (LAPS) analysis methodology.
The center is not a commercial enterprise and has no disclosed pricing structure; it is funded through research grants, industry collaborations, and institutional support. Its primary revenue mechanics are NIH research grants (nearly $60 million in established grants since founding), a multimillion-dollar NIH training grant for predoctoral and postdoctoral training in Medications Development, and collaborative research agreements with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies for target identification, assay development, and biomarker characterization. It employs over 60 active student, predoctoral, postdoctoral, and faculty researchers and reports 247 published papers, 146 grants and awards, and 43 industry collaborations.
Center for Drug Discovery firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Center for Drug Discovery
- Legal name
- Center for Drug Discovery
- Website
- https://cdd.neu.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Center for Drug Discovery is a multidisciplinary academic research center at Northeastern University, founded 2003, focused on medicinal chemistry, GPCRs, and the endocannabinoid system to discover new therapeutic medications, serving biotech and pharmaceutical drug-development partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Center for Drug Discovery industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Drug Discovery 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
- Small-Molecule Drug Product (Solid/Oral/Parenteral) CDMO (HLAGABAB)
Keywords
Where Center for Drug Discovery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Center for Drug Discovery business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Research Grants: Primary funding from National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants supporting drug discovery research activities. The center has received nearly $60 million in established grants since founding.
- Industry Collaborations: Collaborative research agreements with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies for target identification, assay development, and biomarker characterization.
- NIH Training Grant: Multimillion-dollar NIH training grant funding for predoctoral and postdoctoral training programs in Medications Development.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Center for Drug Discovery product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Center for Drug Discovery (CDD) is an academic research organization at Northeastern University that conducts multidisciplinary research aimed at discovering new therapeutic medications. It operates five interconnected laboratories (Medicinal Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Behavioral Pharmacology, and Molecular Pharmacology) focused on G protein-coupled receptors, particularly cannabinoid CB1/CB2 receptors, and provides collaborative research services to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
Product overview
The Center for Drug Discovery (CDD) at Northeastern University is a research center founded in 2003 that conducts multidisciplinary research aimed at discovering new therapeutic medications. CDD operates as a platform for translational biomedicine, comprising five interconnected research laboratories: Medicinal Chemistry (synthesizes novel compounds and performs target-based drug design), Biochemistry (in vitro/in vivo compound profiling and assay development), Biophysics (protein structure analysis using NMR and crystallography), Behavioral Pharmacology (in-vivo rodent studies), and Molecular Pharmacology (GPCR structure-based drug design). The center focuses on therapeutic areas including pain/inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, neuropsychiatric disorders, drug abuse/addiction, metabolic disorders, and cancer. CDD collaborates with biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries and incorporates educational components for training new scientists in drug discovery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory Specializes in target-based drug design integrated with molecular modeling, lead optimization, and development of robust synthetic procedures for scale-up, supporting drug discovery for biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry collaborators.
- Biochemistry Laboratory Designs and implements biochemical assays to test novel compounds in vitro and in vivo, employing mass spectroscopy, radiometrics, fluorometrics, UV and HPLC analytical methods for compound characterization and assay development.
- Biophysics Laboratory Focuses on understanding molecular details of ligand-receptor interactions through solution and solid-state NMR-based protein structure, computational models for ligand design, and analysis of drug-membrane interactions.
- Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory Studies complex in-vivo effects of novel cannabinoid ligands using rodent models, including drug discrimination, locomotor activity, and analgesia studies for substance addiction research.
- Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory Conducts target structure-based drug synthesis and characterization of drug affinity and function at G protein-coupled receptors including cannabinoid, serotonin, muscarinic, and histamine receptors.
Quantifiable outcome
- CB1 crystal structure revealed 53% reduction in ligand-binding pocket volume
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Center for Drug Discovery
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Center for Drug Discovery technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Center for Drug Discovery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Biotechnology IndustrycoreThe CDD collaborates with biotechnology companies to identify and characterize new drug targets, develop assays, and identify biomarkers. These partnerships leverage the center's research capabilities for translational drug discovery applications.
- Pharmaceutical IndustrycoreCollaborations with pharmaceutical companies for joint drug discovery programs, compound characterization, and therapeutic development using the center's proprietary compounds and methodologies.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Center for Drug Discovery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Charles River Laboratories: Large CRO offering drug discovery, medicinal chemistry, structural biology, and in vivo pharmacology services. Comparable to CDD's integrated discovery services across medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics, and behavioral pharmacology.
- Arena Pharmaceuticals (Pfizer): Was a leading GPCR-focused biotech (acquired by Pfizer in 2022) with deep expertise in cannabinoid and other GPCR drug discovery. Comparable as a larger, established player in the same GPCR drug discovery space where CDD conducts fundamental research.
- Boehringer Ingelheim: Global pharmaceutical company with substantial GPCR and CNS drug discovery programs, including research into non-opioid analgesics and addiction therapies. Comparable as a large industry collaborator / partner archetype for academic centers like CDD.
Direct peers
- Schrödinger, Inc. Computational drug design platform company combining physics-based modeling with medicinal chemistry. Comparable to CDD's computational drug design and structure-based ligand optimization capabilities applied to GPCR and related targets.
- Corbus Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage biotech developing cannabinoid-receptor-targeting therapeutics for fibrosis, inflammation, and oncology. Directly comparable to CDD as a focused cannabinoid-receptor drug discovery organization pursuing translational therapeutics.
Emerging players
- Artelo Biosciences: Clinical-stage cannabinoid-focused biotech developing endocannabinoid system modulators for cancer, anorexia, and PTSD. Comparable niche focus on cannabinoid receptor pharmacology and translational drug discovery.
- INMed Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing cannabinoid-based therapies for neurological and dermatological conditions. Comparable as a smaller cannabinoid therapeutics developer translating receptor science into clinical programs.
Others
- Broad Institute: Major academic biomedical research institute conducting large-scale chemical biology and therapeutic discovery. Comparable as a multidisciplinary academic drug discovery platform with similar funding model (federal grants + industry partnerships).
- Scripps Research Institute: Leading academic research organization with strong medicinal chemistry, structural biology, and translational drug discovery programs. Comparable as a peer academic drug discovery center with multidisciplinary platform and NIH-funded operations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Center for Drug Discovery social profiles
Digital presenceCenter for Drug Discovery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Center for Drug Discovery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Center for Drug Discovery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Center for 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 Center for Drug Discovery
What does Center for Drug Discovery do?
The Center for Drug Discovery (CDD) is an academic research organization at Northeastern University that conducts multidisciplinary research aimed at discovering new therapeutic medications. It operates five interconnected laboratories (Medicinal Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Behavioral Pharmacology, and Molecular Pharmacology) focused on G protein-coupled receptors, particularly cannabinoid CB1/CB2 receptors, and provides collaborative research services to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
Is Center for Drug Discovery a public or private company?
Center for Drug Discovery is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Center for Drug Discovery founded?
Center for Drug Discovery was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Center for Drug Discovery based?
Center for Drug Discovery is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Center for Drug Discovery make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Research Grants are the primary driver. The others are industry Collaborations and NIH Training Grant.
Who are Center for Drug Discovery's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Charles River Laboratories, Arena Pharmaceuticals (Pfizer) and Boehringer Ingelheim. Direct peers are Schrödinger, Inc. and Corbus Pharmaceuticals. Emerging players are Artelo Biosciences and INMed Pharmaceuticals. Others are Broad Institute and Scripps Research Institute.
Does Center for Drug Discovery have an API?
No public API is recorded for Center for Drug Discovery.
What industry is Center for Drug Discovery in?
Center for Drug Discovery's product category is Drug Discovery Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGABAB, Small-Molecule Drug Product (Solid/Oral/Parenteral) CDMO. Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.