overview
From idea to candidate, drug discovery demands precision and strategy. Choosing the right partner early in the process can influence the success of your entire project.
As a leading European CRO, we offer a broad portfolio of discovery services as standalone solutions or integrated programs, spanning from target validation to preclinical candidate delivery. We design and run discovery projects across small molecules, antibodies, TPDs, and other modalities, applying them in a wide range of therapeutic areas. Our capabilities include chemistry, in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, DMPK, and protein sciences, tailored to match your project’s scope, stage, and priorities.
Key benefits
- Full IP and data ownership, secured by strong cybersecurity
- Fast DMTA cycles with interdisciplinary teams under one roof
- Flexible and solution-focused approach to challenging projects
- Wide AI implementation to support data-driven discovery
flexibility
Standalone or Integrated – Flexibility at Every Stage
Whether you need a single assay or a comprehensive discovery campaign, we adapt to your project scope and goals. Our standalone services are available across all discovery disciplines and can be combined as needed and can follow either FTE or fee-for-service models, depending on your preference. If you choose to run a fully integrated discovery project, our integrated drug discovery (IDD) team ensures scientific continuity and operational efficiency throughout the entire process.
project management
Collaboration and Communication
Each project is led by a dedicated Selvita Project Leader who coordinates scientific execution and ensures consistency across departments. Our teams work in close alignment with partners through regular virtual meetings, structured reporting, and joint steering committees that guide strategic decisions. Transparent workflows and real-time information sharing allow us to respond quickly to new data and project needs. We also proactively communicate risks and propose mitigation strategies to keep your project on track. This ensures efficient execution, clear decision-making, and a truly partnership-driven experience—, regardless of whether the project is standalone or integrated.
AI
Smart Drug Discovery
Our internal Computer Aided Drug Discovery (CADD) team implements artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning across multiple areas of drug discovery to accelerate and refine every stage of the process, from molecular design and virtual screening to target prediction, structure-activity-relationship (SAR) analysis, and complex data interpretation. Combined with human expertise, our platforms support faster, more informed decisions and help improve the quality and success rate of lead compounds.
All client data is protected by strong cybersecurity protocols and managed within a secure, access-controlled digital environment. We follow industry best practices in data confidentiality, ensuring full compliance throughout every project.
Integrated Projects
Dedicated Integrated Projects Team
For integrated drug discovery programs, we offer the support of a dedicated team of senior scientists with decades of industry experience across pharma, biotech, and contract research industries. This team provides deep scientific insight and strategic guidance, helping define optimal discovery strategies based on the therapeutic context, project objectives, and current scientific and market considerations. Together, they have contributed to the delivery of over 75 preclinical candidates, including molecules that entered the market.
Services
Services
Small molecules
We have deep expertise in small-molecule drug discovery, supporting projects from target validation and hit finding to lead optimization and candidate nomination. Our capabilities span chemistry, in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, protein sciences, CADD, and DMPK, enabling us to address every phase of early discovery. We work with most chemotypes, including fragments, covalent inhibitors, allosteric modulators, and beyond.
Antibodies
We offer comprehensive support for antibody-based projects, including discovery, engineering, characterization, and developability. We provide access to diverse phage display libraries and support multiple formats such as scFv, Fab, and VHH. Our workflows combine screening, affinity maturation, and functional validation—, all adaptable to standalone or integrated setups.
Other modalities
Beyond small molecules and antibodies, we also support more specialized modalities, including targeted protein degraders (TPDs), peptides, macrocycles, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and CAR-T-related components. Their complexity calls for tailored strategies, integration of scientific disciplines, and deep modality-specific insight.
FAQ
FAQ
Drug discovery typically begins with target identification and validation—, confirming that a biological target is relevant to a disease and can be modulated by a therapeutic agent. This is followed by hit finding, where chemical or biological entities are identified that interact with the target. Next comes hit-to-lead and lead optimization, where promising compounds are refined for potency, selectivity, and drug-like properties. The final stage is candidate nomination, where the optimized molecule is selected for preclinical development. Throughout this journey, close collaboration across disciplines is essential to balance efficacy, safety, and developability.
Drug discovery typically begins with target identification and validation—, confirming that a biological target is relevant to a disease and can be modulated by a therapeutic agent. This is followed by hit finding, where chemical or biological entities are identified that interact with the target. Next comes hit-to-lead and lead optimization, where promising compounds are refined for potency, selectivity, and drug-like properties. The final stage is candidate nomination, where the optimized molecule is selected for preclinical development. Throughout this journey, close collaboration across disciplines is essential to balance efficacy, safety, and developability.
Drug discovery typically begins with target identification and validation—, confirming that a biological target is relevant to a disease and can be modulated by a therapeutic agent. This is followed by hit finding, where chemical or biological entities are identified that interact with the target. Next comes hit-to-lead and lead optimization, where promising compounds are refined for potency, selectivity, and drug-like properties. The final stage is candidate nomination, where the optimized molecule is selected for preclinical development. Throughout this journey, close collaboration across disciplines is essential to balance efficacy, safety, and developability.
Drug discovery typically begins with target identification and validation—, confirming that a biological target is relevant to a disease and can be modulated by a therapeutic agent. This is followed by hit finding, where chemical or biological entities are identified that interact with the target. Next comes hit-to-lead and lead optimization, where promising compounds are refined for potency, selectivity, and drug-like properties. The final stage is candidate nomination, where the optimized molecule is selected for preclinical development. Throughout this journey, close collaboration across disciplines is essential to balance efficacy, safety, and developability.
Drug discovery typically begins with target identification and validation—, confirming that a biological target is relevant to a disease and can be modulated by a therapeutic agent. This is followed by hit finding, where chemical or biological entities are identified that interact with the target. Next comes hit-to-lead and lead optimization, where promising compounds are refined for potency, selectivity, and drug-like properties. The final stage is candidate nomination, where the optimized molecule is selected for preclinical development. Throughout this journey, close collaboration across disciplines is essential to balance efficacy, safety, and developability.