Loading organizations...
Crown Bioscience is a global contract research organization (CRO) specializing in preclinical drug discovery and development. It offers translational oncology and immuno-oncology solutions, leveraging in vitro and in vivo platforms such as PDX and syngeneic models. Its approach accelerates drug candidate identification and validation through preclinical testing and bioinformatics.
Established in 2006, Crown Bioscience addressed demand for sophisticated preclinical research in pharma and biotech. Driven by the insight that predictive, translationally relevant models were essential for improving drug development success, especially in complex oncology, this core principle guided its global expansion.
It primarily serves pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and academic institutions developing drugs. Crown Bioscience’s services span target identification to lead optimization and IND-enabling studies. Its vision is to empower customers to improve human health by applying scientific talent and rigorous quality, fostering novel therapy development globally.
Crown Bioscience has raised $59.0M across 3 funding rounds.
Crown Bioscience has raised $59.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Crown Bioscience has raised $59.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Crown Bioscience's investors include Lilly Asia Ventures, Qiming Venture Partners, Argonaut Private Equity, CDIB Capital, CID Group, IBT, nancy Chang, CRCI.
Crown Bioscience is a global contract research organization (CRO) specializing in preclinical and translational services to accelerate oncology and immuno-oncology drug discovery and development.[1][2][3][4] It serves biotech and pharmaceutical companies by providing integrated solutions, including the world's largest commercially available patient-derived xenograft (PDX) collection, over 1,000 tumor organoid models across 35 cancer indications, and expertise in *in vivo*, *in vitro*, *ex vivo*, and *in silico* methods, complemented by biobanks, bioinformatics, and clinical trial support.[1][2][3] As a JSR Life Sciences company, it operates from 11 accredited facilities across the US, Europe, and APAC, solving key challenges in drug efficacy assessment, biomarker discovery, and reducing late-stage risks to deliver superior candidates faster.[1][5]
The company addresses pain points in oncology R&D, such as model accuracy and data integration, through innovative platforms like CRISPR/Cas9, high-content imaging, spatial multi-omics, and AI-driven bioinformatics, enabling precise pharmacological profiling before clinical stages.[2][6][7] Its growth is evidenced by extensive publications (50+ research articles yearly), peer-reviewed papers, and a searchable oncology database, positioning it as a leader in precision medicine solutions.[8]
Crown Bioscience was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in San Diego, California, initially focusing on preclinical and translational research services for oncology and immuno-oncology.[3][5] It expanded globally with 11 sites across the US, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, building capabilities in advanced models like PDX and organoids.[1][3] A pivotal moment came in January 2018 when it was acquired by JSR Corporation, integrating into JSR Life Sciences—a division formed in 2002 to provide end-to-end drug development from discovery to commercialization.[3][5] This acquisition enhanced its scale, combining Crown's oncology expertise with JSR's biopharma materials and services, accelerating innovation and clinical success rates.[5]
Crown Bioscience rides the wave of precision oncology and immuno-oncology, where demand for human-relevant models surges amid rising cancer prevalence and complex therapies like immunotherapies and combination treatments.[1][4] Timing aligns with post-pandemic R&D acceleration, AI/ML adoption in drug discovery (e.g., their AI explorations), and a shift to translational platforms reducing clinical failure rates from ~90% in oncology.[6][9] Market forces like biotech funding recovery, regulatory emphasis on biomarkers, and organoid/PDX validation favor its scale—11 global facilities ensure rapid, compliant service amid supply chain strains.[1][5] It influences the ecosystem by powering pharma pipelines, contributing peer-reviewed data (60+ papers), and enabling affiliates like KBI Biopharma for integrated development, ultimately hastening therapies to patients.[5][8]
Crown Bioscience is poised to expand its AI and multi-omics leadership, integrating machine intelligence with growing PDX/organoid libraries to tackle resistance mechanisms in next-gen oncology drugs.[7][9] Trends like AI-driven discovery, spatial biology, and personalized medicine will shape its trajectory, potentially boosting partnerships amid a projected $100B+ oncology market.[6][10] Its JSR backing ensures scaled innovation, evolving influence from service provider to ecosystem enabler—delivering the high-fidelity data that turns promising candidates into lifesaving treatments, fulfilling its mission to improve human health at pace.[4][5]
Crown Bioscience has raised $59.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $27.0M Series D in May 2014.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2014 | $27.0M Series D | Lilly Asia Ventures | Qiming Venture Partners |
| May 1, 2011 | $29.0M Series C | Argonaut Private Equity, CDIB Capital, CID Group, IBT, nancy Chang | Qiming Venture Partners, CRCI |
| Feb 1, 2008 | $3.0M Series B | Qiming Venture Partners |