Company description

Dalriada Drug Discovery is a biotechnology-focused CRO headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, providing integrated drug discovery services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Founded in 2017, the company focuses exclusively on small molecule therapeutics and supports clients across the full discovery continuum—from early target identification through to preclinical development candidates.

The company positions itself as a “turn-key” discovery partner, offering a fully integrated model that combines scientific strategy, laboratory execution and programme management under one roof. This approach enables interdisciplinary teams—spanning medicinal chemistry, biology, proteomics and computational sciences—to work collaboratively and accelerate drug discovery timelines.

Dalriada’s capabilities are supported by a highly specialised workforce, with a significant proportion of PhD-level scientists and extensive experience drawn from pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Its infrastructure includes advanced laboratory facilities and proprietary platforms such as its multi-proteomics technologies, designed to enable the identification and validation of complex drug targets.

The company works with a diverse client base, from emerging biotech firms to established pharmaceutical companies, helping to de-risk early discovery programmes and accelerate the progression of novel therapeutics towards clinical development. Its model is particularly focused on addressing challenging or previously “undruggable” targets through integrated scientific approaches.

Key products and services

Turn-key drug discovery platform

• Integrated “concept to preclinical candidate” (PDC) support
• Discovery strategy, programme management and laboratory execution
• Cross-functional scientific teams aligned to client programmes

Medicinal chemistry and small molecule development

• Design and synthesis of small molecule compounds
• Hit identification, hit-to-lead and lead optimisation
• Synthetic and analytical chemistry capabilities

Biology and pharmacology services

• In vitro biology, cell and molecular biology
• Biochemical and biophysical assays
• Pharmacology and disease biology research

ADME/DMPK and preclinical development

• In vitro and in vivo ADME(T) studies
• Pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism analysis
• Preclinical candidate selection support

Proteomics and advanced platforms

• Whole-proteome profiling and chemoproteomics
• Biomarker analysis and target validation
• Proprietary platforms (e.g. iCLASS) for druggable target identification

Computational and data-driven discovery (CADD)

• Molecular modelling, docking and in silico ADME(T)
• Integration of computational and experimental workflows
• Data-driven design-make-test-analyse cycles

By combining deep expertise in small molecule therapeutics with an integrated, turn-key delivery model, Dalriada Drug Discovery enables pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to accelerate early-stage drug development and improve programme success rates. Its focus on complex targets, advanced proteomics and collaborative execution positions the company as a specialist partner for innovative discovery programmes within the global life sciences ecosystem.