Finnish Drug Discovery Center

The company works on drug discovery projects from target ideas or early hit molecules through late lead optimization.

The company works on discovery-stage projects from ideas or early hit compounds through late-stage lead optimization.

The company helps identify drug candidates and develop them from early-stage research toward clinical trials.

The National Drug Development Center supports early-stage drug development innovations that traditional venture capitalists often avoid. The page describes the early funding gap as a point where promising studies may fail.

Pekka Kallio, the Research Director, was interviewed for a podcast for the University of Turku and Åbo Akademi’s Ideas to Innovations course.

The company’s CSO, Pekka Kallio, was interviewed for a podcast produced as part of the Turun yliopisto – University of Turku/ Åbo Akademi University Ideas to Innovations course.

Suomen Lääkekehityskeskus Oy held its first stakeholder event on August 27, 2025, at BioCity in Turku. The event was for stakeholders, pharmaceutical researchers, and potential partners; the center identifies university drug development projects and helps develop drug candidates.

The Finnish Drug Discovery Center Ltd appointed its Board of Directors on March 28, 2025, with Jyrki Liljeroos continuing as chairman. Mikko Holm of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment was appointed as a new board member.

Drug Development Centre is a wholly state-owned special-assignment company under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. It serves universities, research institutes, clinical drug research operators, and companies across Finland.

Maarit Merla has more than 22 years of life sciences experience. She has worked as Executive Director at Organon R&D Finland since May 2022 and previously led business development at Forendo Pharma.

Finnish Drug Discovery Center is a special-assignment company wholly owned by the State of Finland. It evaluates promising drug candidates, plans and conducts research and development, and supports international financing and commercial success for pharmaceutical innovations.

Suomen Lääkekehityskeskus Oy is a special-purpose company owned by the Finnish state. It evaluates promising drug candidates, plans and conducts research and development, and seeks pharmaceutical professionals to lead research areas.

Maarit Merla has more than two decades of life sciences experience and became CEO of Suomen Lääkekehityskeskus in early 2024. The state-owned company supports drug candidates’ scientific and business development toward commercial success.

Maarit Merla has more than 22 years of life sciences experience and joined the Finnish Drug Discovery Center as CEO in early 2024. The center is a state-owned company that supports drug discovery and development through scientific and business development support.

Suomen Lääkekehityskeskus (Finnish Drug Discovery Center, FDDC) works with Finnish academic research groups and university innovation offices to identify projects for startup development. Its office is in Kupittaa, Turku.

The Finnish Drug Discovery Center (FDDC) is located in Kupittaa, Turku, and collaborates with Finnish academic research groups and university innovation offices to identify projects for potential startup development in Finland.

The company helps identify promising drug compounds and advance them from early research to clinical studies.

The company helps research communities turn drug targets and compounds into products and companies, and supports drug development and related business in Finland.