Liverpool ChiroChem (LCC), a flourishing chemistry company based at The Heath Business and Technical Park in Runcorn, Cheshire, has been acquired by a leading Chinese-headquartered platform technology company, forming a worldwide collaboration that will revolutionise R&D in molecular science.
LCC, a spin out business from the University of Liverpool co-founded in 2014 by bio-tech entrepreneur Dr Paul Colbon, is renowned for its cutting-edge technology in chiral chemistry. Ground-breaking research by LCC’s scientists has seen the company’s products used around the world to aid the discovery of treatments for diseases such as cancer and dementia.
LCC moved its operations to specialist laboratories at The Heath three years ago. A decade on from the launch of the business, Dr Colbon has been seeking crucial new investment required to continue to grow his operation. Over the past 12 months he had been talking to potential investors in the UK, Europe, North America and Asia. Now XtalPi, a fast-growing leader in AI-powered research for pharmaceuticals and advanced materials, has announced the acquisition of LCC.
Dr Colbon says: “XtalPi shares our ambition to revolutionise how new chemical compounds are discovered. This partnership gives us the opportunity to contribute to a global platform that is reshaping innovation across life sciences.”
With operations in the US, Europe, and Asia, the combined company will now offer its partners improved flexibility, regional project management, and enhanced capabilities to support complex R&D pipelines.
XtalPi was founded in 2015 by three post-doctorate physicists in Boston, USA, who all studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The physicists cooperated as an amateur team to participate in a crystal structure prediction blind test competition hosted by Pfizer. Leveraging their solid foundation in theoretical physics and computational chemistry, the team achieved first place among other exceptional teams of scientists from academia and industry. This success earned XtalPi’s founding team attention in the form of commercial research contracts from international pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, marking the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey.
XtalPi’s IPO in 2024 was the first of its kind for a ‘Specialized Technology Company’ listing under the Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s Chapter 18C rules, with significant international investors from North American, Europe and Asia.
XtalPi retains laboratories in Boston, Massachusetts, with another R&D facility located in Shenzen and a pharmaceutical centre in Shanghai, China.
Through the acquisition, Dr Colbon says LCC will now be part of the world’s leading R&D platform for the sector with the research laboratories at The Heath Business and Technical Park forming the UK arm of the global operation.
John Lewis MBE, owner of The Heath Business and Technical Park, says: “Paul Colbon should be hugely congratulated for identifying a credible partner who brings vital overseas investment to the UK, and in particular to the North-West region. Life Sciences are massively important, and Paul must be commended for his relentless efforts to seek the critical funding required to enable the growth of his remarkable cutting-edge business.
“Paul has an exceptional network across the UK Life Sciences sector, particularly within the North- West and golden triangle of Cambridge, Oxford and London, and it is really very encouraging to see Chinese investment coming into the region thanks to his vision and entrepreneurship which will allow LCC to continue its ground-breaking research. His credible network in tandem with the network of his Chinese partners can only accelerate innovation and R&D in the UK.“
Dr Colbon studied at the University of Liverpool’s Faculty of Science and Engineering for his PhD and Masters Chemistry degrees before co-founding LCC. Last year he won a prestigious award (The Potts Medal) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to chemistry.
John Lewis MBE, owner of The Heath Business and Technical Park, says: “Paul Colbon should be hugely congratulated for identifying a credible partner who brings vital overseas investment to the UK, and in particular to the North-West region. Life Sciences are massively important, and Paul must be commended for his relentless efforts to seek the critical funding required to enable the growth of his remarkable cutting-edge business.
“Paul has an exceptional network across the UK Life Sciences sector, particularly within the North- West and golden triangle of Cambridge, Oxford and London, and it is really very encouraging to see Chinese investment coming into the region thanks to his vision and entrepreneurship which will allow LCC to continue its ground-breaking research. His credible network in tandem with the network of his Chinese partners can only accelerate innovation and R&D in the UK.“
Dr Colbon studied at the University of Liverpool’s Faculty of Science and Engineering for his PhD and Masters Chemistry degrees before co-founding LCC. Last year he won a prestigious award (The Potts Medal) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to chemistry.