In the world of drug discovery, innovation and collaboration are the name of the game. And what happens when you combine British tech brains, Swiss chemical expertise, and Finnish pharma know-how? You get Spark—a new drug discovery powerhouse collaboration under Orion’s Research Ecosystem, forged in a fiery Finnish sauna, that will burn bright with innovation and excellence and give traditional methods a run for their money.

Let’s break it down for you because this is an exciting trio you’ll want to keep an eye on.

Meet the Dream Team

Arctoris: The tech-savvy wizards from Oxford, UK, have developed Ulysses®, an automated lab platform that does more daily than most scientists can do in a week (without the caffeine jitters). Their motto? “Better Data, Better Decisions.” And when it comes to drug discovery, data is king.

SpiroChem: From the land of precision (aka Switzerland), SpiroChem brings its deep chemical and medicinal chemistry expertise to the table. They’re not just mixing things up in the lab. Nope, these experts are pioneering new chemical spaces with synthetic chemistry techniques, a dash of machine learning, and a whole lot of creativity. And they’re not just making molecules—they're designing them, unleashing the creativity of their medicinal chemists to push the boundaries of what’s possible in drug discovery.

Orion Pharma: Based in Finland, Orion is the steady hand that has been innovating in the pharma world for over 100 years. Known for their deep understanding of therapeutic areas and their knack for digital and data-driven research, they’re the perfect anchor for this high-speed drug discovery ship.

Together, they’ve formed an alliance plugged into the Orion Research Ecosystem, bringing their respective talents into one big, efficient, and—dare we say—slightly-nerdy drug discovery operation. The Spark collaboration is about to ignite the drug discovery process like never before.

So, What’s the Big Deal?

Well, think about it. Drug discovery is traditionally a slow, laborious process (think long lab hours and lots of pipettes). But Spark flips that on its head. Arctoris’ automated Ulysses® platform means you can run experiments faster than you can brew a cup of tea (okay, not that fast, but you get the idea). And with SpiroChem’s cutting-edge chemistry toolbox, they’re pushing the limits of what’s chemically possible, creating new drug candidates faster and more effectively.

In short, the days of waiting forever for new therapies might just be over.

What Does This Mean for Patients?

More than just a science experiment, this collaboration means real progress in developing new therapies. Cancer? Chronic pain? Complex diseases that have been stumping scientists for years? Spark aims to tackle these targets head-on. With automation, cutting-edge chemistry, and world-class expertise driving the discovery process, they’re shaving precious time off development cycles—time that could save lives.

The Orion Research Ecosystem: Finland’s High-Tech Pharma Playground

Let’s not forget Orion’s larger vision here. The Orion Research Ecosystem is a digitally enhanced pharma utopia designed to bring together the brightest minds in drug discovery and development. Think of it as a research fast lane, but instead of sports cars, you’ve got AI, automation, and cutting-edge chemistry racing to deliver life-saving therapies.

The addition of Spark—with Arctoris and SpiroChem on board—is a game-changer for this ecosystem. It brings world-class science, automation, and drug discovery power under one collaborative roof, and it's all about getting new therapies to patients fast.

The Takeaway?

If you thought drug discovery was stuck in the slow lane, think again. The UK, Switzerland, and Finland have joined forces to create a super-team in Spark, blending biology, chemistry, and technology to bring you faster, smarter drug development. It's the future of pharma, with a side of automation, a dash of chemistry magic, and a whole lot of teamwork.

And honestly, who wouldn’t love to see a Brit, a Swiss, and a Finn changing the world together?



Ready to see Spark in action?
Get in touch with us to learn more about how the lean integration of SpiroChem and Arctoris can accelerate drug discovery efforts and transform the future of medicine.