As artificial intelligence accelerates drug discovery, NanoImaging Services (NIS) and Proteos are joining forces to tackle a critical bottleneck: proving that AI-designed drug candidates actually work in the lab.
The two US-based contract research organizations have launched TrueCourse Biosciences, an integrated CRO combining protein production, biophysical characterization and structural biology capabilities under one company.
The new organization is designed to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies validate AI-generated predictions before committing further resources to drug candidates.
AI and computational tools can rapidly identify and design potential therapies, but experimental validation remains essential to determining which candidates move forward. TrueCourse aims to bridge that gap by bringing complementary laboratory technologies together under a single partner.
Its capabilities include protein production, biolayer interferometry (BLI), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), X-ray crystallography and nanoparticle characterization using cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM).
The company says the combined platform will allow researchers to examine drug-target interactions, determine the structures of complex biological targets and characterize nanoparticles such as lipid nanoparticles and viral vectors.
The move comes as drug discovery teams increasingly rely on computational and AI-based approaches, creating a growing need for laboratory methods that can validate computational models and predictions.
TrueCourse is already working with biotech companies on this type of research and plans to expand its services as demand grows.
Lindsey Gottler, formerly Director of the Protein Purification Group and Chief Scientific Officer at Proteos, has been appointed CEO of TrueCourse Biosciences.
“Bringing NanoImaging Services and Proteos together under TrueCourse allows us to offer a more connected approach to structural biology, while building on the deep scientific expertise that has defined both organizations. By expanding our capabilities and connecting them more closely, we can help researchers cut through complexity, reduce uncertainty and identify the clearest path forward for their programs.”
Giovanna Scapin, Chief Scientific Officer at TrueCourse, said the integration is intended to give researchers greater flexibility in choosing the technology best suited to a particular target or scientific question.
“Our clients are not focused on whether cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography or another technique is used; they need to understand the structure of their target and use that insight to advance their programs. While we remain the leading cryo-EM provider, bringing these additional complementary capabilities together means we can select the approach that best fits the target and the scientific question, while providing continuity throughout the program.”
The company says the integrated model is intended to turn increasingly complex structural and biophysical data into actionable information for drug discovery teams—from early research through clinical development.
