By Karen Lackey, CEO, X-Chem
Throughout this year, I have been reflecting on the resilience of our industry. In a year defined by market uncertainty, a shift has taken place: the “standard” approach to R&D is no longer enough. To navigate this landscape, discovery needs to be driven by large, multi-dimensional datasets and the new workflows required to achieve milestones faster.
Scaling data for better decisions
At X-Chem, we recognized that the antidote to market uncertainty is scientific certainty. To provide our partners with that clarity, we launched Chemomics. This platform was designed to move beyond simple hit-finding; it generates, manages, and interprets data on an unprecedented scale. By providing this informatics-driven foundation, we help our partners make better, faster, and more economical decisions, ensuring they move through the discovery funnel with confidence.
Global impact and productivity
Our mission to power drug discovery through DEL leadership, computational science, and chemistry excellence served a truly global customer base, stretching from North America to Japan, Australia, and across Europe.
Behind our success in delivering on 190 projects this year is the world-class expertise of our teams in Waltham, Montreal, and Budapest. Their dedication ensures that we remain committed to powering discovery regardless of the organizational model. In 2025, we focused on well-structured collaborations customized for the unique needs of our diverse partners:
- Academic groups and foundations seeking to translate foundational research;
- Biotech and venture capital teams focused on rapid de-risking and asset creation;
- Global pharma companies requiring industrial-scale discovery engines.
These collaborations spanned critical therapeutic areas, including oncology, cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, and the rapidly evolving field of obesity and metabolic health.
Innovation in the partnership model
Innovation requires not only technology but also a model that is “fit-for-purpose.” This year, we saw increasing demand toward our Builder programs (HitBuilder, LeadBuilder, CandidateBuilder). We created these options to provide a single-investment, outcome-based model that guarantees results within specified timeframes, offering a predictable, lower-risk alternative for partners when compared to the traditional FTE model.
Our selected 2025 milestones illustrate this versatility across the discovery spectrum:
- Integrated expansion: Building on a relationship established years prior, Orion extended their partnership with us in 2025, integrating computational chemistry for advanced lead optimization.
- Addressing unmet needs: We supported BioTryp in an anti-bacterial program, delivering specialized expertise for an area of high clinical urgency.
- Strategic alliances: We extended our reach through CRO alliances with Axxam, Cube Biotech, Charles River Laboratories, and Evotec. These collaborations allow us to scale delivery , extend geographic coverage, and support customer programs more efficiently worldwide.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The pharmaceutical industry has evolved to depend on high-quality, innovative platforms that are both economically and technically feasible. To our partners: thank you for your continued trust and for allowing us to be part of your journey toward the clinic.
Whether working with a seed-stage biotech or a global pharmaceutical leader, we are committed to high-quality delivery and earning long-term, productive partnerships. We look forward to continuing this philosophy to drive the creation of safe and efficacious medicines in 2026.
