The UK’s life sciences sector may be at a pivotal moment, but just a few miles south of Manchester, on the edge of the Peak District, a major success story is unfolding.
Concept Life Sciences has completed a significant expansion of its integrated drug discovery facilities at its Chapel-en-le-Frith headquarters, making it one of the largest drug discovery research sites in the UK.
The £2.5 million investment brings together chemistry, ADMET, and screening biology capabilities under one roof, with 130 scientists now working at the Derbyshire site. The company’s mission is clear: to accelerate the development of life-changing therapies, offering streamlined, fully integrated drug discovery services that help bring vital medicines to market faster.
While the average drug discovery timeline in the wider industry can take up to 62 months, Concept Life Sciences can complete the same process in just 28 months, dramatically speeding up the journey from scientific discovery to patient treatment.
The business employs around 230 people across the UK, with over 70% of its workforce holding PhDs. Alongside its Peak District base, Concept operates specialist facilities in Edinburgh, Dundee, and Sandwich.
At the official opening of the expanded site, High Peak MP Jon Pearce hailed the investment as a landmark moment for the region:
“It is fantastic to see Concept Life Sciences investing in Chapel-en-le-Frith and creating one of the UK’s leading drug discovery research sites here in High Peak.
This expansion not only brings high-skilled, high-value jobs to our community, but also puts our region at the forefront of groundbreaking work to develop life-changing therapies. It shows the enormous potential for growth in life sciences both here in High Peak and across the UK.”
The state-of-the-art facilities now offer custom-fit drug discovery solutions across a wide range of modalities and therapeutic areas, further strengthening the company’s ability to deliver high-value life sciences jobs across the Manchester and Sheffield city regions.
Jonathan Critchley, Chief Financial Officer at Concept Life Sciences, added:
“This expansion further enhances our ability to turn breakthrough science into viable, fundable, and clinically impactful therapies. By integrating our drug discovery capabilities under one roof, we’re accelerating innovation and helping bring transformative treatments to patients faster than ever before.”
