Charles River Laboratories International Inc (NYSE: CRL) announced on Monday that it has entered into a strategic collaboration with X-Chem Inc, a leader in DNA-encoded library (DEL) technology, to enhance hit identification (Hit ID) capabilities for drug discovery clients. The partnership gives Charles River clients access to X-Chem's proprietary DEL platform, comprising over 15 billion compounds, to accelerate early-stage therapeutic discovery.

The collaboration integrates Charles River's protein production, assay development and decades of Hit ID expertise with X-Chem's DEL screening technology, creating a seamless workflow from initial hit identification to Hit-to-Lead optimization. This combined approach aims to deliver high-quality, validated hit compounds to support biopharma research programs.

X-Chem's DEL platform, refined over 15 years, features billions of lead-like compounds and advanced selection methodologies to provide interpretable, enriched results, supporting hundreds of discovery programs across multiple target classes.

The partnership underscores both companies' commitment to innovation and client-focused solutions, providing scalable and flexible strategies for pharmaceutical and biotechnology organisations seeking to accelerate drug discovery timelines.

Charles River delivers products and services to advance research, early-stage development, and safe manufacturing of new therapies globally. X-Chem applies DEL screening, medicinal chemistry and data analytics to identify high-quality chemical starting points and optimise them into therapeutic leads.