IQVIA Holdings Inc. has entered into an agreement to acquire certain drug discovery services assets from Charles River Laboratories, a move designed to expand its early-stage research capabilities and strengthen its end-to-end offering for pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients.
The transaction includes five specialized sites focused on in vitro drug discovery services. These facilities are equipped with established laboratory-based New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), as well as a small molecule artificial intelligence platform aimed at accelerating early discovery programs. The acquisition reflects growing industry demand for innovative, non-animal research methods that can streamline development timelines while maintaining scientific rigor.
Collectively, the assets bring more than 20 years of curated scientific and operational data to IQVIA. They are supported by deep therapeutic expertise and a track record of productivity: since inception, the discovery platforms have contributed to the advancement of more than 100 molecules into clinical trials. Several of those compounds have ultimately achieved commercial approval, underscoring the maturity and effectiveness of the capabilities being integrated.
The addition of these assets will complement IQVIA Laboratories’ existing drug discovery infrastructure. Together, they will form a fully integrated, end-to-end discovery platform spanning target identification, hit-to-lead development, lead optimization, and early safety assessment. By bringing these stages under one umbrella, IQVIA aims to enhance efficiency and data continuity across the research continuum.
The expanded platform is expected to broaden IQVIA’s reach across multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, neurology, immunology, metabolic disorders, and rare diseases. It will also support a wider range of drug modalities, positioning the company to address the evolving needs of sponsors pursuing complex and innovative pipelines.
David Morris, president of IQVIA Laboratories, said the acquisition strengthens the company’s ability to engage with clients earlier in the research and development lifecycle. He noted that integrating the newly acquired assets with IQVIA’s translational and clinical development capabilities will create a discovery engine with a demonstrated history of advancing programs into clinical development.
For pharmaceutical and biotech sponsors, the deal promises a more seamless transition from early discovery research through clinical development. By combining scientific, regulatory, and clinical expertise within a single organization, IQVIA aims to reduce fragmentation and accelerate the path from laboratory insight to patient-ready therapies.
The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter, subject to customary closing conditions.