Oncodesign Services has appointed Dr. Aidan Synnott as its new Chief Executive Officer, signaling the contract research organization's commitment to strengthening its position in the drug discovery landscape. The strategic leadership change comes as the company seeks to deepen client collaboration and enhance scientific capabilities to meet evolving biopharma industry needs.
Synnott brings more than 20 years of biomedical research experience to the role, most recently serving as Corporate Vice President of Global Discovery Services at Charles River Laboratories. Throughout his career, he has led multidisciplinary teams across North America, Europe, and Asia, while playing a central role in integrating acquired organizations.
"Oncodesign Services has built its reputation on scientific rigor. The next step is creating a clearer, more agile experience for our clients," said Synnott. "My focus will be aligning our structure and mindset with the priorities of today's drug discovery teams, so we're not just a service provider, but a partner that helps them move forward with confidence."
Strategic Transformation and Integration
The appointment marks a significant milestone in Oncodesign Services' transformation journey following its acquisition of ZoBio and recent expansion into molecular radiotherapy and protein sciences. Synnott will be responsible for unifying the company's diverse capabilities into a cohesive offering designed to accelerate client programs from early discovery through preclinical development.
As part of this evolution, Synnott has outlined three key priorities:
- Enhancing scientific collaboration between Oncodesign's internal experts and client-side researchers
- Completing the integration of acquired sites and harmonizing operations across Europe and North America
- Sharpening the company's commercial focus to meet the changing needs of the R&D landscape
"By staying responsive, organized and deeply collaborative, we can be a CRO that drives clarity and results - particularly in high-stakes fields like oncology, inflammation and radiopharmaceuticals," Synnott added.
Leadership and Expertise
Synnott's scientific credentials include a doctorate in Biotechnology from Tokyo Institute of Technology, where he was awarded the prestigious Kamata Gold Medal. He is listed on several patents and has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed papers and publications.
Based in France, Synnott will oversee Oncodesign Services' operations across sites in Dijon, Paris, and Leiden, Netherlands. His appointment coincides with Dr. Werner Lanthaler, former CEO of Evotec SE, joining as chairman of the board. Together, they will shape the company's international growth strategy and long-term vision.
"With Aidan's client-first mindset and track record in global discovery operations, Oncodesign Services is well-positioned to expand its impact," said Lanthaler. "We're focused on building a world-class CRO with the agility and depth to support the next generation of therapies."
Industry Recognition and Growth
The leadership changes come as Oncodesign Services continues to gain industry recognition. The company recently earned its second consecutive title as Oncology CRO of the Year – France, awarded by Global Health & Pharma, highlighting its leadership in preclinical innovation and therapeutic expertise.
Backed by investors Eurazeo and Elyan Partners, Oncodesign Services is scaling its capabilities across multiple scientific domains, including protein sciences, biophysics, structural biology, in vitro biology, medicinal chemistry, DMPK, in vivo pharmacology, pharmaco-imaging, and molecular radiotherapy.
This comprehensive approach positions the company to address complex drug discovery challenges while providing integrated solutions that span the early development pipeline, particularly in challenging therapeutic areas like oncology and inflammation.
