Bicoll GmbH

Bicoll GmbH is a German life-sciences company headquartered in Munich that specializes in plant-based natural product chemistry combined with medicinal chemistry. Founded in 2000 in Munich, the company describes itself as an expert in the field of plant small molecules backed by strong medicinal chemistry, and it positions itself at the interface between plant-derived natural compounds and drug discovery. Its stated mission is to discover and optimize novel potent molecules for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and agricultural industries, and to translate those discoveries into preclinical candidates that create value for patients. Bicoll's core technical asset is its proprietary Bicoll Plant Profiles™ library, a fine-fraction natural product library derived from scientifically gathered and carefully processed plant species. The company works with plant secondary metabolites and has built more than two decades of experience in this area. Rather than working with crude extracts, Bicoll separates starting materials into polar and non-polar fractions and focuses on identifying single active compounds that can serve as starting points for research programs. The Plant Profiles™ library is generally DMSO-soluble and is designed to support high-throughput screening and lead discovery. On the chemistry side, Bicoll offers state-of-the-art medicinal chemistry services, including parallel synthesis, custom synthesis from microgram to multiple-hundred-gram scale, and preclinical scale-up. The company combines unique natural product approaches with subsequent medicinal chemistry programs, and it provides biological screening approaches such as whole-cell and whole-organism assays as well as biochemical HTS set-ups, for example protein-protein interaction assays with FRET read-out. This integrated discovery offering spans from initial screening through hit-to-lead and toward animal testing or product candidates. Bicoll currently focuses on two main therapeutic areas: neurodegenerative disorders and longevity. Within these areas it develops preclinical candidates, with epilepsy cited as an example of a neurodegenerative condition it addresses. The company also works on flavor and taste modulation, including natural sweet modulation compounds and bitter-masking compounds, which connect its natural product expertise to the food and nutraceutical industries. Bicoll operates through research partnerships with academic institutions and public and private companies around the world. It has long-term partnerships in a variety of fields and presents itself as a trusted and reliable business partner for organizations seeking scientific excellence and customer service. The company has published peer-reviewed research and holds patents documenting applications of its plant-based small molecule libraries, and it has received recognition such as the BSFZ Seal for its research and development innovation. Bicoll is a private company and remains active in the German and international life-sciences ecosystem.

Bicoll GmbH was founded in 2000 in Munich, Germany, according to the company's own account. From its inception, the company concentrated on plant secondary metabolites and the chemistry of natural products, an area in which it has since accumulated more than twenty years of experience. Early on, Bicoll recognized that crude plant extracts presented problems for systematic drug discovery, and it developed an approach based on fractionation: separating starting materials into polar and non-polar parts and then isolating single active compounds. This methodology became the basis of the proprietary Bicoll Plant Profiles™ library, a fine-fraction natural product library that the company describes as the fastest and most successful method for discovering lead compounds from initial screening through to animal tests or products. Over the years, Bicoll built an integrated discovery platform that combines natural product chemistry with medicinal chemistry. The company added capabilities in parallel synthesis, custom synthesis from microgram to multiple-hundred-gram scale, and preclinical scale-up, alongside biological screening approaches such as whole-cell and whole-organism assays and biochemical high-throughput screening, including protein-protein interaction assays with FRET read-out. This allowed Bicoll to support hit-to-lead and lead optimization programs for partners in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and agricultural industries. Bicoll has maintained long-term research partnerships with academic institutions and with public and private companies around the world. Its plant-based small molecule libraries have been applied in a wide range of contexts, as documented by peer-reviewed publications and patents. The company's scientific work has also extended into flavor and taste modulation, including natural sweet modulation compounds and bitter-masking compounds, often in collaboration with academic and industry partners. One notable collaboration involved researchers from Bicoll, the University of Vienna, the Technical University of Munich, and Symrise, resulting in a study on a bitter-masking compound from the resin of Daemonorops draco published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. In recent years, Bicoll has focused its internal discovery efforts on two main areas: neurodegenerative disorders and longevity. Within these fields it develops preclinical candidates, citing epilepsy as an example of a neurodegenerative condition it addresses. The company has received recognition for its innovation, including the BSFZ Seal, which it describes as a testament to its commitment to research and development. It has also announced patent applications in the field of natural sweet modulation compounds. Bicoll continues to operate as a private company headquartered in Munich, presenting itself as a trusted partner at the interface of plant-based natural compounds and medicinal chemistry.

• 2023

  Exhibited at the BIO International Convention in Boston, June 5-8, 2023.

• 2000

  Bicoll GmbH founded in Munich, Germany.

• Development of the proprietary Bicoll Plant Profiles™ fine-fraction natural product library.

• Publication of a study on a bitter-masking compound from Daemonorops draco resin in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, in collaboration with University of Vienna, Technical University of Munich, and Symrise.

• Awarded the BSFZ Seal for innovation in research and development.

• Release of a patent application in the field of natural sweet modulation compounds.

At the interface of plant-based natural compounds and medicinal chemistry, providing discovery services and preclinical candidates for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and agricultural industries.

• Bicoll Plant Profiles™

  Proprietary fine-fraction natural product library derived from plant species, generally DMSO-soluble, used for lead compound discovery.

• Medicinal Chemistry Services

  State-of-the-art chemistry including parallel synthesis, custom synthesis from microgram to multiple hundred grams, and preclinical scale-up.

• Biological Screening Services

  Whole cell and organism screening as well as biochemical HTS set-ups such as protein-protein interaction with FRET read-out.

• Natural Sweet Modulation Compounds

  Compounds and patent applications in the field of natural sweet modulation, including dihydrochalcone derivatives.

1. 1Natural Compounds & Medicinal Chemistry - Bicoll GmbHbicoll-group.com
2. 2EXPERTISE - Bicoll GmbHbicoll-group.com
3. 3ABOUT US - Bicoll GmbHbicoll-group.com
4. 4Company News - Bicoll GmbHbicoll-group.com
5. 5Bicoll GmbH (Germany) - Wikidatawikidata.org