Meddenovo Drug Design chooses Lyon to develop its computational chemistry and pharmaceutical AI activities
Meddenovo Drug Design, a Turkish start-up founded in 2021 by a Franco-Turkish couple, has chosen Lyon as its base to expand its operations in France. The company specializes in the creation and development of cyclic peptide-based drug candidates through a proprietary technology platform combining computational chemistry and artificial intelligence. This innovative approach reduces false positive rates—a key challenge in controlling costs and accelerating the discovery of new medicines.
Lyon: a thriving ecosystem for life sciences and healthcare
The choice of Lyon is driven by its dynamic health and life sciences ecosystem, which brings together research centers, industrial players, and innovative start-ups. In this environment, Meddenovo benefits from the support of ONLYLYON Invest, whose teams assisted the company at every stage of its establishment, from local integration to building initial connections within regional networks.
As the agency highlights:
“Lyon stands out as a strategic platform for innovative healthcare companies. We supported Meddenovo from the outset in identifying local opportunities and facilitating its integration into the regional ecosystem.”
Establishing a foundation for accelerated growth
Since setting up in Lyon in 2023, Meddenovo has strengthened its development projects in France. Within two years, the start-up secured support from Bpifrance as a 2025 i-Lab laureate and successfully closed its pre-seed funding round, raising over €1 million from two venture capital firms: ACT Venture Partners and Invest101. These funds are supporting the development of its AI platform for designing innovative therapeutic solutions.
Toward a greater impact on the pharmaceutical industry
Through its presence in Lyon, Meddenovo aims to strengthen its artificial intelligence capabilities and expand its industrial and scientific partnerships in France and internationally. Establishing operations in Lyon marks a strategic milestone, enabling Meddenovo to anchor itself sustainably within the regional ecosystem and contribute to innovation in drug discovery.
Lyon: an attractive hub for biotech start-ups
Meddenovo’s arrival in Lyon highlights the city’s appeal for international start-ups specializing in biotechnology and drug discovery. Thanks to its infrastructure, talent pool, and strong healthcare innovation network, Lyon confirms its position as a leading European hub for pharmaceutical innovation.