The Next Chapter: Kykeon Analytics Returns to Canada to Build a Premier Laboratory Co-Working Space

History of Kykeon Analytics

Kykeon Analytics was initially established in 2020 as a Canadian harm reduction project. Over the following year, the organization evolved significantly, transforming into a full-service drug checking laboratory in July 2021 after relocating to Spain. This period allowed the project to develop its technical expertise and operational framework in a new environment. And now, in early 2026, we are going back to our roots, where it all started, allowing the organization to apply the knowledge and experience gained internationally to the region where it first began its harm reduction work. The main areas of focus throughout this path have included: drug checking service, market monitoring, a free FTIR spectral library for harm reduction organizations, collaborations and partnerships in harm reduction, Ibogaine research, and drug policy work.

Drug checking

Since its inception, Kykeon Analytics has experienced sustained and exponential growth, both in terms of analytical capacity and operational scope. Going from 216 samples analyzed in 2022 to 2484 samples analyzed in 2025. Reaching the total number of 4082 samples tested in total by the end of 2025, with around half of the samples coming from the USA. The year-by-year evolution reveals a sustained and sharp increase in laboratory activity. This growth reflects both the consolidation of the Drug Checking Service and the ongoing expansion of our monitoring efforts.

Market Monitoring

The market monitoring program is where Kykeon itself began. It started with one person using an FTIR to test drugs from research chemical vendors and sharing the results openly. From those humble beginnings, it evolved into a structured effort to bring transparency to online drug markets. By systematically analyzing samples purchased directly from online vendors, the program assesses real market composition, identifies adulterants, and detects potentially dangerous substitutions. This effort is essential because the online drug market evolves incredibly fast and there are few tools to help users stay safe.

Since its launch, the Market Monitoring program has analyzed 587 samples, building a cumulative dataset to track trends, substitutions, and compositional shifts across online drug markets in Europe, Canada, and beyond. This helps users make better choices by showing them which vendors are likely to sell bad or dangerous products, and which ones are more trustworthy.

FTIR Library

One of “Kykeon Analytics” main objectives was to develop and maintain a free, FTIR spectral library for emerging psychoactive substances, specifically to support harm reduction groups, drug checking services, and global researchers. Work on the Kykeon FTIR library began in 2020, and the first release was launched in May 2023 with an initial 127 spectra and has been continuously expanded through periodic updates, totaling 317 spectra by February 2025.

Between 2023 and the end of 2025, a total of 123 harm reduction groups, research initiatives, universities, public health authorities, and other organizations have used the library. These users are coming from 18 different countries, spanning multiple continents, with the highest representation from North America (60 in the United States and 38 in Canada). Libraries like this one are used by harm reduction services and frontline drug checking organizations to identify unknown substances in real time, prevent overdoses, and ultimately save lives. Researchers and public health authorities rely on Kykeon’s library to track emerging drug trends and issue timely warnings about dangerous compounds circulating in their communities.

Drug Policy

Kykeon Analytics engages in evidence-based drug policy advocacy at international, European, and national levels. Its policy work is grounded in human rights, public health, harm reduction, and civil society participation, opposing prohibitionist approaches.

At the international level, Kykeon participates annually in the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), the United Nations' primary policymaking body on drug-related issues, held each year in Vienna. Topics we have talked about at these sessions include: drug checking as a harm reduction strategy, fentanyl crisis responses, psychedelic policy reform, and the relationship between prohibition and organized crime. Kykeon provided human rights-based recommendations to a Catalan police canine association, including that drug-detection dogs should not be used off-leash in public spaces.

Beyond the CND, Kykeon regularly endorses and supports international advocacy initiatives aligned with our values. This includes signing open letters directed at the United Nations calling for a global review of drug policy, supporting civil society organizations facing legal or political repression, advocating for emerging psychedelic therapies in Europe, and standing in solidarity with frontline harm reduction workers facing criminalization for their life-saving work - such as aiding the Drug User Liberation Front in their legal battle to decriminalise safe supply.

Through all of these efforts, Kykeon continues to bridge scientific research, harm reduction practice, and policy reform at the global level - contributing a grounded, evidence-based voice to some of the most important drug policy conversations happening in the world today.

So where is Kykeon now and what does the future hold for the harm reduction community?

2025 and 2026 brought some exciting developments and big changes to the company. In the early fall of 2025, we purchased a modern facility in British Columbia to serve as the home for our new laboratory. After a lengthy search and significant investment, we were able to identify the ideal location that meets all of our requirements. Owning this property outright gives us full control over the asset and eliminates our reliance on rented, third-party spaces.

At our new facility, we are currently managing large-scale renovations and site preparation works. The focus of this initial phase is on upgrading the building's core infrastructure to bring it up to the specialized structural and safety standards required for the construction of a high-level, professional laboratory environment, which will then be available for rent or leasing as drug “maker-space”.

Why Canada?

Our team identified that Spain does not have a clear or consistent framework governing drug checking and harm reduction activities. As a result, we began looking for locations around the world that would offer a more supportive regulatory environment and greater advantages for advancing harm reduction and drug checking work.

Canada is widely recognized as a world leader in harm reduction and stands among the most progressive countries when it comes to cannabis legislation and research. By relocating our operations to British Columbia, near Victoria, we are entering a well-structured and highly regulated environment. This means clear compliance requirements, strong support from institutions, defined pathways for laboratory accreditation, and reliable federal oversight. Our team will benefit from both the clean surroundings and the regulatory stability that this new location has to offer. For us, this is a chance to get involved in a rapidly growing biotech sector that is still in need of coworking wet lab facilities.

And our goal here is to fill that gap by developing a laboratory co-working model designed for professionals and teams who need access to a fully equipped, prepared, and licensed lab infrastructure without the burden of building and maintaining their own facility.

Our New Project

What we are currently working on is the development of a high-tech laboratory located in British Columbia, near Victoria. This facility is a future lab co-working space, where private individuals and/or organizations will have the option to either rent or lease dedicated laboratory space based on their specific needs. Our primary objective is to design and construct a space that not only meets all relevant Canadian regulatory standards, including those related to safety, environmental compliance, and operational protocols, but also to be a part of the rapidly growing biotech industry in BC and to provide more opportunities for the already developed harm reduction movement in the area, alongside psychedelic companies.

Aside from that, we will be able to provide comprehensive support that begins with lab setup and operational onboarding, ensuring that every new laboratory space is properly configured, equipped, and ready for use from day one. We also offer dedicated regulatory assistance to help partners understand and meet all applicable local requirements, including permits, safety standards, and environmental regulations. Beyond these early stages, our operational support continues throughout the entire engagement, meaning that partners have ongoing access to guidance and problem-solving resources at every step of their laboratory journey, when needed. And it will be done from the place of experience since running a lab is exactly what we are experts at.

The intended capabilities are:

• ISO compliant facility
• Drug checking licensed
• Fully equipped with analytical and synthesis capabilities, including LC-MS/MS, FTIR, NMR, and much more (you will find a more detailed list below)
• Health Canada certified for cannabis & controlled substance work
• Infrastructure that can be tailored to a specific need without a high upfront cost

Available equipment

Our lab has all the essential equipment needed for a fully functional, collaborative work environment. Whether you're conducting research, developing methods, or analyzing samples, you'll find everything on hand. Just bring your work, and our space is ready to support it.

Our lab is equipped with core analytical techniques including LCMS, NMR, HPLC, and FTIR, supported by essential supporting systems such as gas generation, temperature control, sample preparation, and purification equipment. Comprehensive safety infrastructure includes fume hoods, security features, and proper waste containment.

Lab Building Stages

Stage 1: Basic Compliance

Stage 1 establishes a fully functional, code-compliant workspace suitable for analytical chemistry, research, and synthesis work. Infrastructure includes basic mechanical, electrical, and air handling systems, with HVAC and ventilation designed to meet safety and compliance standards for handling chemicals, as well as proper electrical capacity for standard laboratory instruments and office equipment. The workspace includes an on-site office area for administrative tasks, data analysis, and collaborative planning, plus bench space suitable for sample preparation and analysis. The goal of Stage 1 is to provide a fast entry point where partners can begin productive work quickly without major investment.

Stage 2: Expanded Wet Lab Capacity

Stage 2 expands the existing wet lab from Stage 1. The key difference is the additional space, which makes the wet lab larger and allows a second team to work in the facility simultaneously if needed. This expansion provides room for more equipment, more workstations, and more people without compromising safety or workflow. Dedicated workstations for synthesis, extraction, and sample processing are added to accommodate the increased capacity and ensure that everyone can operate efficiently. The goal of Stage 2 is to enable partners to scale up their operations or collaborate with a second team, while maintaining the same compliance and operational efficiency established in Stage 1.

Stage 3: Fully Customizable Buildout

This stage offers complete flexibility to design and equip the space according to a specific partner's unique needs, whether for research, production, or commercial purposes. What can be built includes a full production-grade lab for manufacturing, quality control, or commercial output, an NMR facility for advanced structural analysis, and R&D facilities for product development and process optimization, biotech and medical applications. The goal of Stage 3 is to build an environment exactly matched to your specific scientific or commercial objectives!

Such a space will be a great fit for:

• Cannabis companies entering or expanding in the Canadian market
• Harm reduction and drug checking organizations
• Academic researchers and independent scientists
• Pharmaceutical developers and biotech companies
• Psychedelics companies and startups
• Research chemical companies and producers
• Safe supply companies
• Food and beverage producers requiring quality control and product testing
• Chemical manufacturers and analytical chemistry teams
• Materials science startups
• NGOs and non-profits conducting scientific or field-based research
• Environmental testing organizations
• Regulatory and compliance-focused organizations
• Cosmetics and personal care product developers
• Nutraceutical and supplement companies
• Startups developing analytical methods or products
• Contract research organizations
• Organizations requiring compliant lab space for short or long-term projects

Our new British Columbia facility represents the next chapter of our journey - a professional, fully equipped, and compliant laboratory space designed to empower the people and organizations doing meaningful scientific work.

Whether you are a researcher looking for a ready-to-use space, a startup that needs infrastructure without the overhead, a cannabis or psychedelics company seeking a licensed and compliant environment, or a harm reduction organization in need of analytical support, this space was built with you in mind. We understand what it takes to run a lab, because running a lab is exactly what we do!

What we are offering goes beyond square footage and equipment. It is a collaborative environment backed by real operational experience, regulatory knowledge, and a genuine commitment to the work. Our partners do not just get access to a facility - they get access to a team that has been through the challenges of laboratory work firsthand and is ready to support them at every step.

Beyond long-term partnerships, the facility is also open for short-term use. This option is well suited for individuals or teams who need temporary access to a fully equipped professional laboratory for a specific purpose, whether that is a one-off research project, product synthesis, pilot production runs, method development, or even content creation and filming. We offer flexible arrangements that can be tailored to fit the scope and duration of any short-term engagement.

And because the facility is still in the process of being built, we are in a unique position to offer an exceptional level of flexibility right from the very beginning.

British Columbia is one of the most exciting places in the world right now for biotech, harm reduction, cannabis, and psychedelic research. We are proud to be back here and even prouder to be opening this space to others.