Momentum Biotechnologies has completed the acquisition of OmicScouts, a Munich-based CRO and established leader in the field of mass spectrometry-based proteomics, operating hereafter as OmicScouts, a Momentum Biotechnologies Company.  

With this transaction, Momentum gains access to a broad portfolio of well-validated proteomic assays that enhance and extend their existing service offerings, enabling clients to seamlessly progress from high-throughput screening into cell-based assays, as well as to discover new targets and biomarkers. The acquisition also enables immediate geographic expansion into the European market, further realizing Momentum’s strategic commitment to providing gold-standard scientific services to biopharmaceutical innovators worldwide.

“Our clients have long requested our help triaging and further interrogating the hits we uncover through high-throughput screens. With the addition of OmicScouts’ leading chemoproteomic capabilities, we are now able to take projects beyond hit identification to interrogate target engagement, selectivity/specificity, and global drug response, effectively closing the existing gap between biochemical hit triage and downstream cell-based and preclinical assays,” said Can Ozbal, PhD, Founder and CEO of Momentum Biotechnologies.

“We are excited about this opportunity to expand our service capabilities while maintaining our mutual commitments to customer satisfaction, scientific rigor, and ongoing technological innovation,” added Ozbal.

OmicScouts’ co-founder and CEO Hannes Hahne, Ph.D. will transition into a new role as President and member of Momentum’s global executive leadership team following the integration.

Hannes Hahne added, “OmicScouts was founded from our desire to give researchers the tools and talent needed for proteomics-based drug discovery. The Momentum team shared a similar vision to make high-throughput mass spectrometry accessible to drug developers, and I am excited to combine forces towards an even bigger vision of providing the ultimate drug discovery cascade with screening through proteomics.”

The two groups are aligned in their firm technical foundations and long-lasting client relationships, making the acquisition an excellent cultural and strategic fit.

“OmicScouts and Momentum are both distinguished by technical excellence and deep trust from their clients. This combination allows us to integrate OmicScouts’ proteomics expertise with our screening technologies and ultimately accelerate the drug design process for clients,” said Peter Batesko, Lead Director of Momentum and Managing Partner of Care Equity.

Two of OmicScouts’ co-founders and scientific advisers, Mathias Wilhelm, Ph.D., and Bernhard Kuster, Ph.D., will join Momentum’s Scientific Advisory Board, where they will serve as valuable resources for the combined team.

“I am excited to serve as an advisor for this exceptional group as they continue to develop and expand their service offerings and offer unique insights to clients through rich, high-quality mass spectrometry data,” said Wilhelm.

Kuster commented, “My lab continued to work closely with Hannes and OmicScouts to translate cutting-edge proteomics methods from academia into tangible therapeutic innovations. The impact of proteomics on drug discovery is only starting to gain recognition, and we are excited to accelerate these advancements.”