LCC Technologies and XtalPi have been shortlisted for the Bionow Investment Deal of the Year Award 2025, recognising one of the most strategically significant life‑science deals in the UK over the past year.
In June 2025, XtalPi – a global leader in AI‑driven drug discovery – acquired LCC, leading to the creation of LCC Technologies Ltd. The nomination reflects not only the strength of the transaction itself but the shared ambition behind it: to accelerate discovery science by uniting world‑class chemistry, cutting‑edge automation and advanced AI.
A strategic partnership built on complementary strengths
Rather than building similar capabilities internally, XtalPi identified that LCC’s deeply specialised expertise and its proprietary PACE™ platform offered a unique strategic advantage. LCC had already developed an integrated discovery engine combining 3D‑rich chiral fragments, virtual ligand screening, fragment‑based discovery workflows, and automation-ready chemistry.
By bringing XtalPi’s AI, robotics, and global infrastructure together with LCC’s chemistry innovation, the acquisition created a combined capability neither organisation could have achieved as rapidly alone.
Since the deal, XtalPi has invested significantly in scaling the PACE™ platform – now supported by a billion‑compound virtual chiral library and over 250 automated robotic systems, enabling thousands of compounds to be synthesised and tested each week.
A win for both the region and the global industry
From a regional perspective, the deal safeguarded 20 skilled scientific jobs in the Liverpool City Region and further strengthened the North West’s growing reputation as a centre for life‑science innovation. For the UK, the acquisition signals strong international confidence in the country’s scientific capability and provides a high‑profile example of global inward investment into UK‑based R&D.
The collaboration between XtalPi and LCC has also expanded the UK’s position within AI‑enabled drug discovery – demonstrating how combining home‑grown scientific expertise with global technological leadership can create a competitive advantage on the world stage.
Looking ahead
Being jointly shortlisted for this award is an important milestone for both organisations. It reflects not only the success of the acquisition but also the shared vision for transforming how new medicines are discovered.
We’re proud of how far the partnership has come – and even more excited about what’s ahead for LCC Technologies and XtalPi.
