Sygnature Discovery, a world-leading integrated drug discovery and non-clinical solutions provider, has begun expanding into new state of the art laboratories at Bruntwood SciTech’s Alderley Park, Cheshire, adding Chemistry and Biology expertise to its DMPK and Translational Oncology teams already present on the site.

Creating truly integrated interdisciplinary teams, co-located in the same facility, is a cornerstone of Sygnature’s methodology for successfully delivering druggable candidates into the clinic. This expansion turns Alderley Park into a second co-located, integrated site for Sygnature, aligning with the company’s driving ethos of capitalising on the problem solving and innovative power of multidisciplinary teams.

The expansion on this internationally recognised research campus also provides the opportunity to bring up to 150 scientists into Sygnature’s integrated drug discovery solutions platform, adding to the 425 staff operating at the company’s headquarters in BioCity, Nottingham.

Dr Simon Hirst, CEO & Founder, Sygnature Discovery, said: “This is a tremendous opportunity for Sygnature. Increasing demand for our services has driven our decision to expand, and Alderley Park, with its well-earned reputation here and internationally, provides the ideal home for our new integrated site.

“With exceptional facilities tailored to our needs, an incredible set of neighbours operating on-site, and a phenomenal talent pool for us to draw from, we are set for a bright future at Alderley Park.”

The world class science and tech campus at Alderley Park – developed and managed by Bruntwood SciTech – hosts many of the world’s top scientific research organisations, creating opportunities for Sygnature to reinforce its network and forge new alliances.

The “Cheshire Science Corridor” also provides a highly experienced talent pool from which Sygnature can recruit for its new laboratories. Sygnature’s focus on investing in experienced scientists (over 80% of its scientists hold a PhD), while also nurturing up and coming researchers to foster a broad spectrum of ideas and capabilities, makes Alderley Park the perfect setting for future growth.

Dr Kath Mackay, Managing Director, Bruntwood SciTech - Alderley Park, said: “UK life sciences has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to establish itself as a world leader, and businesses like Sygnature Discovery will be at the forefront of that push.

“Sygnature’s expansion will enable it to better collaborate within the ecosystem of companies already based here, in turn driving innovation, and make it more attractive to the talent on offer on its doorstep. We’re proud to be playing our part in helping Sygnature deliver vital drug discovery research that will have long-lasting benefits for patients.”

About Sygnature Discovery

Sygnature Discovery is a leading independent integrated drug discovery and non-clinical services company. Private equity-backed since 2017, the company operates fully enabled research facilities in Nottingham and Alderley Park, UK, housing more than 375 research scientist (over 80% of whom hold a PhD), and has an office presence in Cambridge, MA, USA.

Their experienced drug-hunters possess all the professional skills and know-how required to undertake the most demanding of research programmes, and drive them from target validation through hit identification, hit-to-lead and lead optimisation to pre-clinical development candidate. Sygnature’s pharmacology arm was formed by the incorporation of RenaSci, acquired in 2018, into Sygnature’s fully-integrated drug discovery platform.

Since 2011, 34 compounds discovered by Sygnature for customers have entered pre-clinical development and, so far, 17 of these have progressed to clinical trials (Phases I, II and III). In 2017, Sygnature Discovery received the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade, and in the last year has won both the Medilink Outstanding Achievement Award and the Bionow Company of the Year Award.

About Bruntwood SciTech

Bruntwood SciTech is the UK’s leading developer of innovation districts, creating the environments and ecosystems for science and technology businesses to form, scale and grow.

A 50:50 joint venture between leading property company Bruntwood and Legal & General, Bruntwood SciTech provides high quality office and laboratory space and tailored business support, offering unrivalled access to finance, talent and markets, an extensive clinical, academic and public partner network and a sector-specialist community of over 500 companies.

Bruntwood SciTech has unique experience in creating and developing strategic partnerships with UK regional cities, universities and NHS Trusts to drive economic growth through investment in science and technology infrastructure.

Bruntwood SciTech has a portfolio of over 1.8m sq ft including Alderley Park in Cheshire, Platform in Leeds, Innovation Birmingham, a cluster in the heart of Manchester’s Oxford Road Corridor innovation district - Manchester Science Park, Citylabs 1.0 & 2.0 part of the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) campus and Circle Square - a joint venture with Vita Group and a development pipeline of 850,000sq ft which includes Birmingham Health Innovation Campus.