Rigaku and SPERA PHARMA Forge Strategic Alliance to Revolutionize Pharmaceutical Development with Advanced Electron Diffraction Technology
In a groundbreaking collaboration set to redefine the future of pharmaceutical research and development, Rigaku Corporation, a prominent player in precision analytical instrumentation, and SPERA PHARMA, Inc., a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), have officially announced a strategic partnership. This alliance aims to harness state-of-the-art electron diffraction technology to accelerate and enhance the process of pharmaceutical development — from molecular structure elucidation to formulation and manufacturing.
At the core of this new collaboration is the XtaLAB Synergy-ED, Rigaku’s cutting-edge platform for three-dimensional electron diffraction (3D ED), also known as MicroED. By integrating this high-resolution crystallographic analysis technology into its suite of contract analytical services, SPERA PHARMA becomes the first and only CDMO in the global pharmaceutical industry to commercially offer such advanced electron diffraction-based services.
The partnership brings together two companies with complementary strengths: Rigaku’s legacy and innovation in X-ray and electron-based structural analysis, and SPERA PHARMA’s extensive expertise in pharmaceutical R&D and manufacturing, particularly in Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC). Their joint efforts are not only set to enhance analytical accuracy in drug development but also to expedite the path from molecule to medicine — offering pharmaceutical clients a powerful new toolkit for modern drug design and validation.
XtaLAB Synergy-ED: Redefining Molecular Imaging and Crystallographic Analysis
The XtaLAB Synergy-ED platform, developed by Rigaku, is an integrated electron diffraction solution capable of determining atomic-level molecular structures from nanocrystals and sub-microscopic quantities of crystalline powder. It represents a paradigm shift in structural chemistry and pharmaceutical analysis.
Unlike conventional X-ray crystallography, which requires relatively large single crystals, MicroED allows researchers to work with particles that are mere nanometers in size. This capability significantly reduces material requirements, expedites sample preparation, and opens new doors for analyzing compounds that were previously considered too difficult or impossible to characterize structurally.
In essence, this electron diffraction system can accurately resolve the atomic structure of organic compounds, polymorphs, salts, and cocrystals — all of which are critical to understanding and optimizing drug efficacy, stability, solubility, and bioavailability. As a result, the technology becomes indispensable not only in drug discovery but also in regulatory submission stages, where exact molecular details can make or break a pharmaceutical product’s success.
SPERA PHARMA: A Global First in Commercial MicroED Application
By integrating the XtaLAB Synergy-ED into its workflow, SPERA PHARMA has positioned itself as the first and only commercial service provider globally offering MicroED-based structural analysis as part of its pharmaceutical R&D portfolio. This puts the company at the forefront of a new analytical frontier, with unmatched potential to support drug developers working with challenging molecules or limited sample sizes.
Rigaku will provide continuous technical support to SPERA PHARMA, ensuring seamless operation of the XtaLAB Synergy-ED platform and fostering innovation in analytical methods. This includes guidance in instrument calibration, method development, data processing, and troubleshooting — forming a symbiotic relationship that accelerates the evolution of both partners’ capabilities.
Research Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
Beyond equipment integration and service delivery, the partnership between Rigaku and SPERA PHARMA is designed to be deeply collaborative. The two companies are actively co-developing new research approaches and analytical protocols using the XtaLAB Synergy-ED. These efforts include joint participation in academic publications, industry forums, and technical conferences.
A notable example of their early collaborative output is the study titled “Detection of Hydrogen Atoms Using Only 3D ED/MicroED and Contribution to Structure Determining Salts or Cocrystals,” published in Crystal Growth & Design (2025, Volume 25, Issue 1, pp. 129–135). This research illustrates the XtaLAB Synergy-ED’s capability to detect hydrogen atoms — an achievement that remains a significant challenge for many traditional crystallographic methods. The findings demonstrate the method’s utility in accurately identifying the location of labile hydrogen atoms in salts or cocrystals, which has far-reaching implications in pharmaceutical solid-state chemistry.
Through these efforts, the partnership intends not only to promote cutting-edge analysis but also to contribute to the collective scientific understanding of MicroED methodologies and their applications in drug development.
Supporting Pharmaceutical Development from Discovery to Application
SPERA PHARMA’s expertise spans a comprehensive range of pharmaceutical services, including process chemistry, formulation development, analytical development, and clinical trial material manufacturing. By incorporating electron diffraction analysis into this portfolio, SPERA PHARMA enhances its ability to support clients through the entire drug development lifecycle — from early-stage molecular screening to Investigational New Drug (IND) applications and final regulatory submissions.
Pharmaceutical companies often face significant hurdles when working with new chemical entities (NCEs) that exist only in microcrystalline or amorphous states, making traditional analytical techniques insufficient. The availability of MicroED analysis through SPERA PHARMA enables these firms to gain detailed insights into structural characteristics that would otherwise remain elusive — particularly in the development of complex formulations such as co-crystals, polymorphs, and prodrugs.
Pioneering the Future of Medicine Together
The strategic alliance between Rigaku and SPERA PHARMA is more than a technology-sharing agreement — it is a future-facing commitment to reshape the pharmaceutical landscape with innovation and precision. As the demand for more efficient, accurate, and material-sparing analytical techniques grows, the combined capabilities of these two organizations promise to become increasingly vital.
For Rigaku, the partnership represents a meaningful expansion of its footprint in the life sciences and pharmaceutical sectors. Traditionally known for its X-ray instrumentation used in materials science, semiconductors, and environmental analysis, Rigaku is actively diversifying its solutions portfolio to include electron-based analysis platforms for molecular characterization in biomedical applications.
For SPERA PHARMA, the integration of this technology strengthens its market leadership among CDMOs and reinforces its reputation as a forward-thinking organization dedicated to adopting and delivering the most advanced solutions available to pharmaceutical innovators.
Company Backgrounds
About Rigaku Group
Founded in 1951, Rigaku Group has evolved into a global leader in analytical and industrial instrumentation. Headquartered in Akishima, Tokyo, and employing over 2,000 professionals worldwide, Rigaku delivers technological excellence in X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), thermal analysis, and now electron diffraction.
Operating across 9 global subsidiaries, Rigaku’s instruments are trusted in over 90 countries, with an international sales ratio of approximately 70%. The company maintains dominant market share in Japan and is continually expanding its reach in high-tech sectors such as semiconductors, battery materials, nanotechnology, energy, and life sciences.
Rigaku’s vision, “To Improve Our World by Powering New Perspectives,” is realized through a relentless pursuit of innovation and collaboration. More information about Rigaku’s mission and product portfolio can be found at rigaku-holdings.com/english.
About SPERA PHARMA
Established in July 2017 and headquartered in Osaka, SPERA PHARMA, Inc. specializes in Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) as a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO). Its core capabilities include process chemistry, analytical services, formulation science, and clinical trial material production — all of which are essential to navigating the complex regulatory pathways of modern pharmaceutical development.
With a team of seasoned researchers and scientists, SPERA PHARMA serves pharmaceutical innovators from early discovery through to New Drug Application (NDA). The company provides flexible, one-stop solutions tailored to the specific needs of clients in Japan and abroad. SPERA PHARMA’s facilities, technologies, and personnel are all focused on expediting development while ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
Final Thoughts: A Strategic Blueprint for the Future
As pharmaceutical research becomes increasingly complex and globalized, strategic alliances such as the one between Rigaku and SPERA PHARMA will play a vital role in supporting next-generation drug development. Through their combined technological innovation, scientific rigor, and commitment to progress, these companies are laying the groundwork for a more precise, efficient, and insightful approach to medicine.
With the world watching as new drug modalities such as RNA-based therapies, protein degraders, and personalized medicine advance, the need for detailed structural understanding is greater than ever. In this context, the application of MicroED and similar high-resolution analytical techniques may become not just advantageous, but essential.
By joining forces at this pivotal moment, Rigaku and SPERA PHARMA have sent a clear message to the pharmaceutical world: the future of drug development lies in partnerships that blend deep expertise with transformative technology — and that future has already begun.
