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Drug discovery services
Our drug discovery teams, operating across Europe and North America, integrate medicinal chemistry in vitro biology, and ADME studies to generate consistent, decision-ready data. This approach helps you understand compound behaviour earlier, refine design strategy and progress candidates confidently toward IND.
Our integrated drug discovery CRO services
With Symeres your small-molecule program stays visible, connected, and adaptable from discovery through IND. With chemistry, biology, and ADME-tox expertise working under one system, you get faster data flow and fewer handoffs. Transparent communication and agile planning mean you always know what’s working, what’s next and how to stay on track
Projects can run as standalone studies or as coordinated, multi-disciplinary programs.
Chemistry
Medicinal, computational, synthetic, and specialty chemistry for design, synthesis, and optimization of small molecules. Capabilities include SAR development, structure-based design, parallel synthesis, and route optimization.
ADME
In vitro and in vivo ADME studies to define pharmacokinetic and metabolic profiles. Late-stage ADME support links directly with solid-state and formulation groups to proactively anticipate developability risks.
Biology
Assays for target validation, potency, biomarkers and mechanism of action studies. Capabilities include in vitro enzymatic and cell-based systems, supported by bioinformatics
Drug delivery
Lipid and polymer chemistry to improve solubility, stability, and targeted delivery of small molecules, nucleic acid therapeutics and other modalities.
Connecting discovery and development
Integrated discovery and development mean fewer variables and faster scale-up. Shared teams, connected systems and transparent open communication carry your methods forward, so scale-up starts from a solid scientific foundation, not from scratch.
What do our partners say?
“Through our dedicated FTE resource at Symeres we have achieved remarkable results, not only by developing a new “aspirational” synthetic route but also by significantly improving the current one to deliver a sustainable route for commercial production and giving us two options for late development.”
Associate Director
Large pharma, Europe
“I would like to extend my thanks for the excellent work Symeres has done in synthesizing the API for Part 1 of our project. Your communication throughout the process was outstanding, and the sense of urgency with which you operated allowed us to complete this phase promptly and efficiently.”
Leader
Large biotech
“We are developing the most complex molecule that is built at this time in the world…We work with a lot of CROs, also chemistry CROs, and so far Symeres has done the best job with respect to transparency and also to troubleshoot the problems and find a solution. Over the years we have been really impressed with the work that Symeres has done.”
Founder
Biotech
“A sign that things are going well - we keep coming to you. We’ve given Symeres five or six different projects already. That’s almost unheard of for us.“
Senior Director, Manufacturing
Top 10 global pharma
“The progression was really phenomenal. I am truly impressed. There is a world of difference between you and other CROs.”
Start-up Founder
Biotech
“If the compound can be made, Symeres will undoubtedly find out a good way to make it.”
Dooyoung Jung, CEO
Pinotbio
“We’ve been with them…over 10 years. The cost, the flexibility - the value is just so strong. That’s why we’ve stuck with them.”
Senior Director, CMC
Biotech
“They’ve always met or exceeded my expectations - that’s why I continue to come back, company after company, year after year.”
Allen Horhota, Vice-President Platform & Delivery
Seamless Therapeutics
“The team is making short work of these targets, so we will have to start thinking of some additional targets!”
Director
Biotech
Your transatlantic drug discovery and development partner
Symeres supports small-molecule programs from discovery through IND with openness, agility and scientific depth. Our connected teams in Europe and North America provide medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, synthetic chemistry, and specialty chemistry services integrated with biology, ADME-tox, and CMC development.
We share data transparently, adapt quickly to new results, and stay accountable from first experiments to IND, to keep your progress clear, connected and continuous. Projects can run as standalone studies or as coordinated, multi-disciplinary programs.
Resources we think you'll love
Blog
CDMO red flags you can’t ignore: Regulatory shortfalls and misalignment
Whitepaper
5 CDMO red flags you can’t ignore: A guide for biotechs and pharma
Blog
CDMO red flags you can’t ignore: Underestimating technology transfer complexity
Blog
O.N.E Symeres: A practical approach to real-world drug development
Blog
CDMO red flags you can’t ignore: Undefined or shifting project scope
Whitepaper
Accelerating chemical innovation: Unveiling Symeres’ parallel chemistry
Webinar | On-demand
From racemic to pure the art and science of enantiomer separation
Whitepaper
IND & IMPD enabling developability roadmap
Whitepaper
Innovations in unnatural amino acids: Advancing functional diversity and applications
Whitepaper
Leveraging copper-catalyzed ullmann-type cross-coupling reactions in PR&D
Whitepaper
Managing nitrosamines in the pharmaceutical industry: A comprehensive approach
Whitepaper
Optimizing solid-state properties and enhancing API bioavailability through physicochemical prediction
Whitepaper
Stable isotope-labeled compounds
Whitepaper
Unlocking the potential of high-throughput screening: Symegold library design and expansion insights
Interviews
Insights into drug discovery and development 2025
Interviews
Interview with the computer-aided drug design (CADD) department
Interviews
Meet the Organix Director, Mario Gonzalez
Interviews
Interview with the new Managing Director of Symeres Groningen
Interviews
An interview with Yadan Chen and Paul O’Shea
Interviews
An interview with Anu Mahadevan and Paul Blundell
Blog
Crystalline and liquid crystalline 25-hydroxy-cholest-5-en-3-sulfate sodium and methods for preparing same
Webinar | On-demand
In vivo pharmacokinetic experiments in preclinical drug development
Webinar | On-demand
Accelerating medicinal chemistry by rapid analoging
Webinar | On-demand
Solid-state chemistry part II: Optimal form selection by controlled crystallization
Webinar | On-demand
Route scouting for kilogram-scale manufacturing of APIs
Webinar | On-demand
Solid-state chemistry part I: Introduction
Your discovery and development partner
Symeres support small-molecule programs from discovery through IND with openness, agility and scientific depth. Our connected teams in Europe and North America provide medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, synthetic chemistry, and specialty chemistry services integrated with biology, ADME-tox, and CMC development.
We share data transparently, adapt quickly to new results, and stay accountable from first experiments to IND, to keep your progress clear, connected and continuous. Projects can run as standalone studies or as coordinated, multi-disciplinary programs.
Connect with our drug discovery experts
Let us support the discovery and development of your next breakthrough.