Concept Life Sciences Establishes One of UK's Largest Drug Discovery Research Sites with Major Facility Expansion
Key Insights
Concept Life Sciences (search) officially opened its expanded integrated drug discovery facilities at Chapel-en-le-Frith, bringing chemistry, ADMET (search) and screening biology capabilities together under one roof with 130 scientists on site.
The expansion establishes one of the UK's largest drug discovery research sites and is expected to provide high-value life sciences job opportunities in the Manchester and Sheffield region.
The company has successfully helped 29 drug candidates advance to the clinic and can accelerate drug development from concept to clinic in as little as 32 months, well ahead of the industry average of 60 months.
Concept Life Sciences (search), a leading contract research organisation (CRO) serving the global life sciences and pharmaceutical industry, has officially opened its expanded integrated drug discovery facilities at Chapel-en-le-Frith, establishing one of the UK's largest drug discovery research sites. The facility was officially opened by Jonathan Pearce, the Labour Member of Parliament for High Peak, on September 26, 2025.
Integrated Capabilities Under One Roof
The expansion brings together chemistry, ADMET (search) (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) and screening biology capabilities under one roof, with 130 scientists now working on site. This integration represents a key milestone in the company's mission to accelerate the development of life-changing therapies by providing streamlined drug discovery services that unlock progress in early-stage innovation through efficient workflows and troubleshooting.
"This expansion of our facilities further strengthens our ability to turn breakthrough science into viable, fundable and clinically impactful therapies through our integrated drug discovery capabilities," said Jonathan Critchley, Chief Financial Officer at Concept Life Sciences (search). "As an agile, client-centric CRO, with world-leading scientific and regulatory expertise, we don't just deliver on the science for our clients, we provide a tailored solution-oriented approach to enable early-stage research companies to overcome unique drug discovery challenges."
Economic Impact and Regional Development
The expanded state-of-the-art facilities are expected to provide high-value life sciences job opportunities in the Manchester and Sheffield region. MP Jonathan Pearce emphasized the significance of this investment for the local community and the broader UK life sciences sector.
"It is fantastic to see Concept Life Sciences (search) investing in Chapel-en-le-Frith and creating one of the UK's leading drug discovery research sites here in High Peak," Pearce said. "This expansion not only brings high-skilled, high-value jobs to our community, but also puts our region at the forefront of groundbreaking work to develop life-changing therapies. It shows the enormous potential for growth in life sciences both here in High Peak and across the UK, building on our proud tradition of innovation while helping to secure the high-quality jobs of the future."
Proven Track Record in Drug Development
Concept Life Sciences (search) has demonstrated significant success in accelerating drug development timelines. The company has successfully helped 29 candidates advance to the clinic and can move drugs from concept to clinic in as little as 32 months, well ahead of the industry average of 60 months. This acceleration is achieved through the company's high-quality services across the drug discovery and development pathway.
Comprehensive Service Portfolio
The company offers sophisticated translational biology services coupled with exceptional end-to-end chemistry capabilities, providing concept to clinic solutions. Across multiple modalities, including small molecules (search), biologics (search), peptides (search), and cell & gene therapies (search), Concept Life Sciences (search) seamlessly integrates capabilities and provides bespoke solutions to address drug discovery challenges.
The facilities include custom-fit drug discovery solutions across a broad range of modalities and therapy areas, positioning the company to serve diverse client needs in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.
Company Profile and Expertise
For over 25 years, Concept Life Sciences (search) and its heritage companies have provided consultative and collaborative drug discovery and development services. The company's approach, supported by passionate scientists and world-leading capabilities, enables it to overcome complex scientific challenges across a broad range of therapeutic areas, improving success rates for translating innovations into viable therapeutics.
Driven by a passion for science, Concept Life Sciences (search) employs around 230 people, with over 70% holding PhDs. The company operates from state-of-the-art UK facilities, headquartered near Manchester, with additional specialist operations in Edinburgh, Dundee, and Sandwich.