編者按：“讓天下沒有難做的藥，難治的病”，是初心，更是愿景。自成立以來，藥明康德步履不停：從一間實驗室，到覆蓋亞洲、歐洲和北美的全球網(wǎng)絡(luò)。從早期的化學(xué)合成服務(wù)，到貫穿研究（R）、開發(fā)（D）和生產(chǎn)（M）的一體化平臺。從第一位客戶，到全球三十多個國家的數(shù)千合作伙伴。不斷發(fā)展的，是規(guī)模與能力；始終堅守的，是夢想與承諾。

致敬來時路，共譜新篇章！在這一系列訪談中，我們以“逐夢者”視角，回顧藥明康德成長發(fā)展的崢嶸歲月，回望賦能客戶創(chuàng)新的并肩往事，更以獨特的“藥明精神”展望未來新篇章。

在德國巴伐利亞州的陽光下，格雷佛爾芬生命科學(xué)中心的玻璃幕墻閃耀著光芒。走進(jìn)中心大門，來到藥明康德子公司Crelux的新實驗室，可以感覺到空氣中彌漫著輕快而興奮的氣息——既有對實驗結(jié)果的期待，也有檢驗新想法的憧憬。

對Crelux負(fù)責(zé)人托馬斯·邁因斯（Thomas Meins）博士而言，實驗室的搬遷遠(yuǎn)不只是換了一個地址，而是標(biāo)志著公司成長的一個重要轉(zhuǎn)折點。

從專注蛋白質(zhì)結(jié)構(gòu)基礎(chǔ)研究的初創(chuàng)公司，到慕尼黑蓬勃發(fā)展的生物技術(shù)社區(qū)的關(guān)鍵成員，再到藥明康德全球CRDMO一體化平臺的重要一環(huán)，Crelux已經(jīng)將屬于德國本地的創(chuàng)造力與全球影響力緊密相連。

“新實驗室為我們提供了所需的空間與工具，讓我們可以探索更多想法，支持更多伙伴。”邁因斯博士說道。

從德國初創(chuàng)到全球賦能

將近20年前，邁因斯師從諾獎得主，從馬克斯·普朗克研究所獲得博士學(xué)位。畢業(yè)后，他注意到與研究所毗鄰的Crelux公司。

當(dāng)時，Crelux還只是位于慕尼黑郊外的一家小型初創(chuàng)企業(yè)，但卻已經(jīng)在晶體學(xué)、蛋白質(zhì)生物化學(xué)與生物物理學(xué)領(lǐng)域闖出了名聲。

了解新藥發(fā)現(xiàn)的人都知道，這些技術(shù)能揭示藥物如何在原子層面與靶點相互作用，有著極其重要的意義。

而這一堅實的科學(xué)背景，也讓它進(jìn)入了更廣闊的天地。

2016年，藥明康德宣布收購Crelux公司。也正是從那一刻起，邁因斯博士感受到了藥明康德的與眾不同。

“從兩家公司的第一次對話，到最終簽署協(xié)議，僅僅用了六個月，”他回憶道，“現(xiàn)在回想起來，那是我第一次真正體會到人們所說的‘藥明速度’?！?/p>

對藥明康德而言，收購Crelux公司，意味著在歐洲最具活力的生物技術(shù)集群之一，建立了重要的研發(fā)中心。

而對Crelux來說，通過藥明康德全球一體化的CRDMO平臺，它能作為“研究-開發(fā)-生產(chǎn)”這一鏈條的源頭，借助藥明康德的品牌，為更多客戶提供賦能。

“我們擁有了全球化公司的資源與影響力，同時還能保留初創(chuàng)公司的創(chuàng)造力?！?/strong>邁因斯博士說，“無論是初創(chuàng)公司、學(xué)術(shù)機(jī)構(gòu)還是全球醫(yī)藥企業(yè)，Crelux現(xiàn)在都能為他們提供研究服務(wù)，讓他們的創(chuàng)新想法成為現(xiàn)實。”

讓創(chuàng)新者“看見”分子運作

邁因斯博士介紹說，Crelux團(tuán)隊的核心任務(wù)，是幫助新藥研發(fā)者“看見”分子運作。具體來說，是觀察新藥和靶點如何結(jié)合、變化、互動。通過這些洞察，客戶可以更快地設(shè)計出更優(yōu)的化合物。

這種賦能精神也融入了Crelux的新空間——開放式實驗室打破了不同領(lǐng)域科學(xué)家之間的交流障礙。結(jié)構(gòu)生物學(xué)家、生物化學(xué)家和藥物化學(xué)家不僅共享空間，更共享思想。

邁因斯博士說，這形成了一股流暢而高效的科研節(jié)奏，既追求清晰，也激發(fā)創(chuàng)意。

其中，DNA編碼化合物庫（DEL）篩選技術(shù)與片段篩選技術(shù)，以及X射線晶體學(xué)和冷凍電鏡的應(yīng)用，能讓團(tuán)隊在極短時間內(nèi)找到潛在候選分子。“從靶點到Hits，一般只需要六到八周的時間?！?/strong>邁因斯博士說，“小型初創(chuàng)公司分秒必爭，我們的速度對他們而言尤其重要?！?/p>

但速度并不是Crelux賦能能力的全部。真正讓其與眾不同的，是其前瞻性的思維方式——把每一次實驗都看作下一次發(fā)現(xiàn)的起點。

“我們的科學(xué)家不會把項目交付當(dāng)作終點，”邁因斯博士解釋道，“他們會思考接下來要做什么、怎樣推動項目朝著下一個里程碑繼續(xù)前進(jìn)。這才是我們支持客戶的方式?！?/p>

這種理念與藥明康德“跟隨分子”（Follow the Molecule）的一體化策略完美契合——在慕尼黑啟動的項目，在完成早期研發(fā)工作后，可以順利推進(jìn)至瑞士的開發(fā)階段，或延伸至亞洲和北美的生產(chǎn)環(huán)節(jié)，從發(fā)現(xiàn)到交付，全流程保持科學(xué)的連貫性。

“我們不是在移交項目，”邁因斯博士說，“我們是在為每一個分子的旅程做好引導(dǎo)。”

圖片來源：123RF

歐洲創(chuàng)新中心的賦能者

Crelux的全球化成長非但沒有削弱它在慕尼黑本地的根基，反而使其更加堅固。

邁因斯博士介紹，慕尼黑是歐洲最為活躍的生物技術(shù)中心之一，吸引了德國近九成的早期生命科學(xué)投資。在BioM等行業(yè)組織和IZB創(chuàng)新中心等平臺的支持下，慕尼黑已成為初創(chuàng)企業(yè)、投資者與科學(xué)家匯聚的熱土。

在這塊熱土上，Crelux不僅是當(dāng)?shù)乜焖俪砷L的生物技術(shù)社區(qū)的重要成員，還同時扮演著科研者與連接者的角色。

“我們視自己為生態(tài)系統(tǒng)的賦能者，”邁因斯博士說，“有時我們做科學(xué)，有時是搭建橋梁。比如我們會舉辦研討會，把投資人和研究人員聚在一起，分享我們的經(jīng)驗和想法?！?/p>

“科學(xué)并不總是發(fā)生在實驗臺上，”他補(bǔ)充道，“更重要的是讓對的人相遇，讓科學(xué)得以發(fā)生?！?/strong>

這一角色在慕尼黑當(dāng)?shù)氐墓娀顒又畜w現(xiàn)得淋漓盡致。每隔一段時間，Crelux就會開放場地，舉辦培訓(xùn)課程，和當(dāng)?shù)氐膭?chuàng)新者進(jìn)行實踐討論，話題包括如何建立高效的合作伙伴關(guān)系，以及如何準(zhǔn)備新藥的下一個階段。

這種緊密的合作也增強(qiáng)了本地社區(qū)的信任。在最近的一場慕尼黑活動上，一位風(fēng)險投資人表示：“與合適的伙伴、投資者以及像藥明康德這樣卓越的公司建立聯(lián)系至關(guān)重要。”如今在整個地區(qū)，Crelux被視為值得信賴的科學(xué)伙伴和創(chuàng)新的推動者。

“當(dāng)我們加入藥明康德時，團(tuán)隊只有二十人，”邁因斯博士回憶道，“現(xiàn)在我們大約有一百人。但我們依然保有初創(chuàng)企業(yè)的創(chuàng)造力，同時擁有全球的資源。”這種創(chuàng)意與資源的結(jié)合，成為Crelux最大的優(yōu)勢之一。

“藥明康德不僅賦能客戶，也賦能自己的團(tuán)隊，”邁因斯博士補(bǔ)充說道，“只要有好想法，支持就會迅速到位，讓合作伙伴更快看到成果?！?/p>

“每一個科學(xué)都值得擁有機(jī)會”

當(dāng)夕陽的余暉灑在阿爾卑斯山上，邁因斯博士回顧起了自己的職業(yè)道路——從生物化學(xué)的博士，到一家全球企業(yè)的歐洲基地負(fù)責(zé)人。一路走來，如果用一句話總結(jié)這段經(jīng)歷，“藥明康德所做的，就是有機(jī)會去更快、更高效地測試更多科學(xué)想法?！?/strong>

“科學(xué)界的好點子遠(yuǎn)比資源要多，”他說，“能測試更多的想法，就能增加帶來新藥，改變患者生命的可能?！?/p>

“每一個科學(xué)都值得擁有機(jī)會，”邁因斯博士說，“而在慕尼黑，我們正讓這個目標(biāo)成為現(xiàn)實。”

Giving Every Science a Chance

Editor’s Note: “Every drug can be made and every disease can be treated.” Since 2000, from a single laboratory to a global network spanning Asia, Europe, and North America; from early chemical synthesis services to an integrated platform that connects Research (R), Development (D), and Manufacturing (M); from its very first customer to thousands of partners across more than 30 countries, WuXi AppTec has never stopped moving forward to realize its enduring vision.

In tribute to the journey, we look back through the eyes of our “dream-makers”: revisiting the stories of partnership that empowered global innovation, and the unique spirit that continues to guide us toward the next chapter.

Glass walls shine in the Bavarian sunlight as the doors open to Crelux’s new home in the Gr?felfing Life Science Center. Inside, machines start to buzz, screens light up, and rows of experiment plates stand neatly like chessboards. The air feels light and full of excitement: a mix of eagerness for the first results, and the creative spark that comes when big ideas finally have room to grow.

For Crelux, the move is more than just a new address. It marks a turning point in the company’s growth, from a specialist in structure-based discovery to an important part of Munich’s expanding biotech community, now fully connected to WuXi AppTec’s global CRDMO network. The goal is both practical and ambitious: smoother teamwork, faster delivery, and a clear path that links local creativity with global impact.

“This new site gives us the space and tools to do what we love most,” says Dr. Thomas Meins, General Manager of WuXi AppTec’s subsidiary Crelux.“We can explore more ideas, support more partners, and give every science a chance.”

From a Local Startup to a Global Partner

When Meins joined Crelux more than 15 years ago, it was a small startup that began on the outskirts of Munich, between local universities and the Max Planck Institute, where Meins earned his doctorate in structural biology from a Nobel laureate’s lab. By then, Crelux had already become well known for its expertise in crystallography, protein biochemistry, and biophysics: these fields reveal how drugs interact with their targets at the atomic level. This strong scientific foundation prepared the company for a larger role.

When WuXi AppTec acquired Crelux in 2016, Meins immediately sensed something different. “It took only six months from our first conversation to the signed agreement,” he recalls. “That was my first real experience of what people mean by WuXi Speed.”

The merger transformed both sides. For WuXi AppTec, it anchored research capabilities in one of Europe’s most vibrant biotech clusters. For Crelux, it opened a direct connection to WuXi AppTec’s global CRDMO platform, linking Research, Development, and Manufacturing under one integrated model.

Two shared visions also came together. WuXi AppTec’s aim to support innovators of every size, from startups and universities to global pharmaceutical companies, helped Crelux expand its reach while keeping its scientific spirit intact. Becoming part of the WuXi AppTec network opened access to a wider range of technologies and a global platform with one common goal: making innovation accessible to everyone.

“We kept the creativity of a startup but gained the reach and resources of a global organization. That combination is powerful.”Meins says.

Enabling the Innovators

At its core, the Munich team helps drug hunters see their molecules in motion: how they bind, shift, and interact at the molecular level. With that knowledge, clients can design better compounds faster.

In the new facility, the spirit is built into the space itself: open laboratories bring together disciplines that once worked separately; structural biologists, biochemists, and medicinal chemists now share not only hallways but also ideas. The result is a smooth, fast-paced research rhythm that encourages both clarity and creativity.

Crelux’s capabilities have grown alongside its space. From DNA-encoded library (DEL) screening to fragment screening, from X-ray crystallography to Cryo-EM, the team now supports the clients to identify promising compounds in a fraction of the usual time. “We can move from target to primary hit in just six to eight weeks,” says Meins. “That’s a game changer, especially for smaller startups where every week matters.”

Yet speed is only one part of the story. What truly sets Crelux apart is its forward-thinking approach: treating each experiment as a step toward the next discovery.“Our scientists don’t just deliver results and stop,” Meins explains. “They ask what comes next, what is needed to move the project forward. That curiosity is how we support our clients, and help ideas grow into medicines.”

This mindset fits perfectly with WuXi AppTec’s “Follow the Molecule” model. Projects that begin in Munich can smoothly go through its discovery stage, and continue its development and manufacturing in WuXi AppTec’s global sites in Europe, Asia, and North America, keeping the same scientific continuity from discovery to delivery.

“That’s how you maintain momentum from the first hit to the first batch,” Meins says. “We’re not handing off a project. We’re guiding each molecule through its journey.”

Image source：123RF

Part of Munich’s Innovation Community

Crelux’s global connections have not weakened its local roots; they have made them stronger. The company is a key part of Munich’s growing biotech community, a region that attracts over 80% of Germany’s early investment in life sciences. With support from organizations such as BioM and innovation centers like the IZB Innovation Center, Munich has become a place where startups, investors, and scientists come together—and Crelux plays both roles, helping and connecting them.

“We see ourselves as part of the ecosystem,” says Meins. “Sometimes we are scientists, sometimes we are facilitators.We host workshops, bring investors and researchers together, and share our thoughts and ideas.”

“It’s not always about doing the science,” Meins adds. “Sometimes it’s about connecting the right people so the science can happen.”

This role is easy to see at public events. Crelux opens its doors for community events, training sessions, and discussions about practical topics such as how to build strong partnerships, and what to prepare for the next stages.

This close collaboration builds trust within the local community. At a recent Munich event, a venture capitalist said, “Connecting with the right partners, investors, and outstanding companies like WuXi AppTec is critical and meaningful.” Across the region, Crelux is seen as both a reliable scientific partner and a driver of innovation.

Growth has not changed the company’s character. “When we joined WuXi AppTec, we had about twenty people,” Meins recalls. “Now we’re around a hundred. But we’ve kept the creativity of a startup, and now we also have the resources of a global company.” That mix of imagination and strong support has become one of Crelux’s biggest strengths.

It also shows why the integration has worked so well. “WuXi AppTec doesn’t just enable clients, it enables its own teams,” he says. “If you have a good idea, the support follows fast, so the partners can see the results sooner.”

A Future Written in Ideas

As evening light spills across the Alps, Meins reflects on the long arc from biochemistry student to site head within a global enterprise. “There are far more scientific ideas than there are resources to test them,” he says. “What WuXi AppTec does is make it possible for more of those ideas to be tried, faster and more effectively.”

He pauses, watching the sunset catch the glass walls of the new lab.“The more ideas we give a chance, the greater the odds that one of them becomes a life-changing medicine.”

That conviction has become both his mission and his measure of success.

“Every science deserves a chance,” Meins says. “And here in Munich, we’re making sure it gets one.”

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