Alcyomics specialises in preclinical immunotoxicology, helping pharmaceutical companies assess whether new medicines could cause potentially harmful immune reactions before they progress to clinical trials.

The company’s human-based testing platforms are designed to produce information that is more relevant to human biology than conventional animal models.

The acquisition by Swedish life sciences company SenzaGen, a specialist in non-animal chemical safety testing, will give Alcyomics access to a broader international market and additional opportunities to develop and commercialise its technology.

Anne Dickinson, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Alcyomics, said: “Our ambition has always been to offer unique testing methods that enable pharmaceutical companies to commercialise new treatments cost-effectively, using a reliable and ethical alternative to animal testing.

“In SenzaGen, we have found a partner that shares this ambition and can give our team and technology the conditions to grow further in a broader international context.”

From research to commercial success

Founded in 2009, Alcyomics grew out of more than 30 years of research into haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The company achieved revenue of approximately £1.5 million during its 2025/26 financial year, representing growth of 46% compared with the previous year.

At the heart of Alcyomics’ work is its proprietary Skimune® platform, which combines human skin tissue with immune cells to identify adverse immune responses during the preclinical development of new medicines.

The platform can be used to evaluate complex biological drugs, including monoclonal antibodies, T-cell engagers and bispecific therapies. By identifying safety risks earlier, the technology can help pharmaceutical companies make better-informed development decisions, reduce the risk of costly failures at later stages and reduce reliance on animal testing.

Peter Nählstedt, President and Chief Executive Officer of SenzaGen, said: “Through the acquisition of Alcyomics, we are entering a new, exciting and expanding segment of drug development, where the shift towards non-animal methods is accelerating.

“Like SenzaGen, Alcyomics is built on deep expertise in immunology, which creates significant opportunities in sales, business development and research and development.’

Based at the Newcastle Helix innovation district, its customers include multinational pharmaceutical companies in Europe, the United States and Japan.

Rick McCordall, Head of Venture Creation, Newcastle Innovations at Newcastle University, said: “This acquisition is an important milestone for Alcyomics and will provide a strong platform for its next stage of international growth.

“It also demonstrates the wider value of our spin-outs in bringing innovation to market, attracting investment and creating high-quality opportunities in the North East of England, with the potential to deliver impact around the world.”

The acquisition of Alcyomics is the latest demonstration of the growing maturity of Newcastle University’s spin-out portfolio. Earlier this year, a report from the Royal Academy of Engineering showed that Newcastle University spin-outs created more than £270 million in value between 2010 and 2025, with 15 new companies launched since 2022. The University’s spin-outs have also attracted almost £100 million in investment over the past two years.

To read more about the acquisition see our Newcastle Innovations story and find out more about investment and leadership opportunities with Newcastle University.