Bruker acquires stake in NovAliX, an alliance to revolutionize drug discovery
In a significant move set to reshape the landscape of drug discovery, NovAliX, a leading Contract Research Organization (CRO) specializing in drug development, has entered a strategic partnership with Bruker, a global leader in scientific instruments.
As part of this alliance, Bruker has acquired a minority stake in NovAliX, and says this highlights the increasing importance of CROs in the rapidly
evolving pharmaceutical industry.
The collaboration aims to harness the combined strengths of NovAliX’s expertise in structural biology, biophysics, and pharmacology with Bruker’s analytical technology. Together, the two companies plan to advance drug discovery and development processes, increasing the likelihood of success in an industry where bringing new drugs to market is more challenging and costly than ever.
“Bruker is at the forefront of technology serving the life sciences and focuses on the best ways to deploy technology for the advancement of science,” said Stephan Jenn, president of NovAliX.
“For more than 20 years, NovAliX has independently developed an unrivaled research engine. Now, our alliance with Bruker marks a crucial step in further enhancing the research capacity we offer for our biopharmaceutical customers' therapeutic projects.”
Founding the biophysics Institute for Biomedical Research (IBRB)
A key element of this strategic partnership is the establishment of the Biophysics Institute for Biomedical Research (IBRB), a new institution that will
bring together NovAliX, Bruker, and the renowned Max Planck Institute. This collaborative environment is set to provide scientists from both academia and industry with access to state-of-the-art biophysics instrumentation and drug discovery expertise, fostering the development of next-generation therapeutic technologies.
Falko Busse, president of Bruker BioSpin, is enthusiastic about the potential impact of this alliance: He said: “We recognized NovAliX as a leading drug discovery CRO with an unrivaled technological and biophysical focus. The IBRB concept represents a novel approach to ensuring progress and access to the characterization technologies essential for the successful research and development of new therapies.”
The IBRB is designed to facilitate collaboration and innovation, enabling new therapeutic ideas to mature through shared access to cutting-edge facilities and expertise. This unique combination of resources is expected to generate the experimental data crucial for the success of current and future drug discovery programs.
Expanding footprint and global reach
As part of this strategic move, NovAliX is also planning to establish new scientific and technology platforms to expand its presence in the United States, further enhancing its capabilities and reach in the global drug discovery market.
“IBRB will significantly contribute to the ongoing transformation of this industry,” said Denis Zeyer, CEO of NovAliX. “By fostering interaction between stakeholders and organizing access to shared knowledge through the joint use of major facilities, IBRB will enable new therapeutic innovation to mature effectively.”
A new era of drug discovery
This alliance between a giant drug discovery CRO and a leading scientific instrument provider marks a pivotal moment in the field of therapeutic innovation. Historically dominated by large pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms, the industry is now witnessing the rise of a new model—one where collaborations like that of NovAliX and Bruker are driving the next wave of drug discovery and development.
As the partnership unfolds, the biopharmaceutical industry can expect to see an acceleration in the incubation, deployment, and support for advanced biophysical methods, ultimately leading to more efficient and successful therapeutic discoveries.
