We draw from
the genius of nature
and respect nature
in return.
IMAX Discovery offers comprehensive and integrated solutions to support its clients and partners in the identification, validation and development of new bioactive molecules for their specific projects.
Thanks to the excellent know-how and expertise of its scientific team and by taking advantage of the established technology platforms and proprietary natural compound collection of about 100,000 individual sample, IMAX Discovery provides a broad range of services and customized solutions to the flavor, fragrance and cosmetic industries.

IMAX Discovery has been working on numerous and successful R&D activities both for proprietary projects and several Client projects, among which:

MARKET & SERVICES
IMAX Discovery offers comprehensive and integrated solutions to support its clients and partners in the identification,
validation and development of new bioactive molecules for their specific projects.

Food & Beverage / Pet Food
Humans monitor the chemical composition of food and environment with three different sensory pathways: the taste system, the olfactory system and the somatosensory system.

Fragrance
Olfaction is one of the most fascinating senses, and very closely related to the sense of taste and to emotions and memories.

Cosmetics
The demand for natural, organic active cosmetic agents is always a key driver of the cosmetics industry, and consumers are seeking for ethical and sustainable products from natural sources.
our services
We work closely with our clients to find the solution tailored to their specific needs.
CUSTOM ASSAY DEVELOPMENT
We offer our extensive experience and expertise in custom assay development for cell-based and biochemical assays using a variety of different signal detection methods in order to better adapt the assay to the final goal.
All our assays are QC checked and satisfy stringent quality requirements for use in automated high throughput screening.
We have in-depth expertise in establishing assays on challenging targets requiring the expression of multiple subunits or auxiliary protein complexes and on cytosolic, secreted and transmembrane enzymes co-expressed with cofactors and accessory subunits, to better comply with the hit finding strategy and the physiological environment of the target.
HIGH THROUGHPUT SCREENING
The High Throughput Screening (HTS) approach has been extensively used by pharma industries in the drug discovery process since more 30 years. IMAX Discovery applies this method for the systematic identification of new bioactive compounds in the field of flavor & fragrance and cosmetics.
Pre-selecting compounds based on HTS and criteria like target activation and toxicity delivers specifically pre-qualified compounds to sensory panels and results in a considerably increased chance of success in finding novel taste modifying or odor molecules as well as actives for cosmetic applications.
IMAX Discovery has access to four fully automated state-of-the-art screening stations designed to run biochemical and cell-based assays in 384 well format, using a variety of detection technologies.
With more than 20-year experience in the field, our team support our clients in selecting the most appropriate screening strategy according to the specific target’s features and goal.
In combination to their screening program, our clients can have access to our:
- unique Natural compound collection
- synthetic compound collection
- ready-to-go assays, or alternatively, they can access our customizable assay development services or transfer their own assays to us.
HIGH CONTENT SCREENING
IMAX Discovery offers a wide-range of HCS services to clients utilizing 2D and 3D cell cultures. With full access to Operetta and Opera HC image systems, our team of HCS experts will help you in identifying or validate new active ingredients for your cosmetic applications.
Our HC analysis systems allow the simultaneous analysis of multiple phenotypes, and single cell analysis.
3D cell culture models have proven to be more physiologically relevant and seem to better mimic the in vivo physiology and environment. 3D phenotypic analysis represents an interesting option at relatively low-cost before moving to in-vivo validation.
ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY
Ion channels play a critical role in conveying sensations like tingling, burning, cold, thus providing a key contribution to taste, touch, thermosensation and nociception.
IMAX Discovery can support your ion channel analysis taking advantage of a large panel of technologies for high- and medium throughput screening, compound profiling and mechanism of action studies.
To satisfy the client’s needs, our experienced scientists will use one of our “ready to use” assays or engineer a dedicated customised cell line.
news & press
Discover the latest news from IMAX Discovery world. Stay updated!
GPCRs: Master & Commander also for the perception of Taste and Smell
Wednesday February 15, 2023
3 pm CET
Free live webinar.
Speakers: Stefan Lohmer, Axxam CEO, & Marcel Winnig, IMAX Discovery Business Unit Head
Register for the webinar
Keensight Capital to acquire a majority stake in Axxam, a leading European partner research organization in life sciences
Trends in Natural Product R&D
Wednesday May 11 2022
4 pm CEST / 10 am EDT / 7 am PDT
Free live webinar.
Presenter: Thomas Henkel
Register for webinar