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WILMINGTON, Mass. - Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE:CRL) announced a strategic collaboration with X-Chem, Inc. to enhance its hit identification capabilities for drug discovery. The partnership, announced Monday, will give Charles River clients access to X-Chem’s DNA-encoded library (DEL) platform, which contains over 15 billion compounds.
The collaboration integrates Charles River’s protein production and assay development expertise with X-Chem’s DEL technology to create a more comprehensive workflow from hit identification to lead optimization in the drug discovery process.
"X-Chem’s DEL technology is a powerful addition to our Hit ID Toolbox," said Chris Barnes, Executive Director & Head, Small Molecule Drug Discovery at Charles River.
X-Chem’s platform has been refined over 15 years and has supported hundreds of discovery programs across various target classes. The technology combines selection methodologies with data analysis to deliver results that can accelerate early drug discovery efforts.
Matt Clark, President & CSO at X-Chem, stated, "Partnering with Charles River extends the reach of our DEL platform to more research teams worldwide. Our shared goal is to make data-driven decision-making in early discovery more accessible."
The partnership aims to provide pharmaceutical and biotechnology organizations with additional options to accelerate their drug discovery programs by combining both companies’ expertise.
The information in this article is based on a press release statement from Charles River Laboratories.
In other recent news, Charles River Laboratories reported its second-quarter earnings for 2025, surpassing analyst expectations with an earnings per share (EPS) of $3.12, compared to the projected $2.50, resulting in a 24.8% surprise. The company’s revenue reached $1.03 billion, slightly above the forecasted $984.86 million. Despite these positive results, the stock experienced a decline in pre-market trading. Additionally, Charles River Laboratories has formed a global Scientific Advisory Board to advance New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) aimed at reducing reliance on animal testing in therapeutic development. The board will be led by Dr. Namandjé N. Bumpus, a former Chief Scientist at the FDA. In terms of analyst ratings, TD Cowen maintained its Buy rating on the company while raising the price target to $205.00. William Blair upgraded Charles River Laboratories’ stock rating to Outperform, citing a more favorable environment for pharmaceutical outsourcing. Jefferies also upgraded the company’s stock from Hold to Buy, noting improvements in Discovery and Safety Assessment (DSA) bookings.
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