What Monod Bio does

Monod Bio is a Seattle-based life sciences company founded in 2022 as a spinout from David Baker's lab at the University of Washington's Institute for Protein Design. The company operates an AI-powered de novo protein design platform that computationally generates novel proteins from scratch — not derived from natural sequences — for use as research reagents and diagnostic building blocks. Its core platform combines generative design of protein sequences with optimization loops that tune properties such as binding affinity, thermal stability, manufacturability, and (for luciferases) brightness and glow kinetics.

The company's product portfolio spans three layers: (1) LuxSit™ Pro, the world's first commercially available fully de novo luciferase, offered as a whole-protein reporter and a split-pair system for protein-protein interaction studies; (2) NovoBody™ binders, ~27 kDa AI-designed proteins that serve as antibody replacements, available in Mono, bispecific Duo, and Fc-fusion formats; and (3) the NovoLISA™ homogeneous immunoassay platform, which pairs NovoBody capture reagents with LuxSit split luciferase reporting to deliver no-wash, mix-and-read results in under 15 minutes on standard plate readers, with a CRP assay launched in September 2024 and additional analytes (IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-2, cTnI) in development. A LuxLink conjugation kit extends the platform to custom assay development. The technology has been validated in peer-reviewed publications in Nature and Nature Biotechnology and is the basis for the February 2026 commercial launch of Gator Bio's HIS XT biosensor probes — the first BLI probes built on AI-designed binding proteins.

Monod Bio operates a hybrid go-to-market model. Direct e-commerce (monod.bio) and global distribution through Fisher Scientific handle catalog RUO product sales at unit prices ranging from $125 to $750. The "Monod Inside" OEM/licensing model supplies NovoBody proteins to enterprise partners — notably Bio-Techne (exclusive licensing for NovoBody Duo, announced November 2025) and Gator Bio (BLI biosensor integration, with HIS XT probe launch in February 2026) — generating upfront payments, supply revenue, and royalties. The company also pursues non-dilutive capital through global health grants, including $2.25M from the Gates Foundation in 2025 for tuberculosis and preeclampsia diagnostics in low-resource settings. Its customer base spans academic and CRO researchers, life sciences tools and diagnostics companies (RUO/IVD), and global health organizations; pricing is unit-based with custom quotes for bulk/enterprise orders.

Name

Monod Bio

Legal name

Monod Bio, Inc.

Website

https://monod.bio

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Monod Bio is a Seattle-based life sciences company that uses AI to design de novo proteins, selling luciferase reporters, antibody-replacement binders, and biosensor assay platforms to life sciences researchers and diagnostics developers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Life Sciences Research Reagents

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineered Protein Therapeutics (de novo/AI-designed proteins, novel scaffolds) (HLAAAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization) (HLAAAIAC)

Keywords

• De novo protein design
• Luciferase assay reagents
• Antibody replacement proteins
• Homogeneous immunoassays
• Computational protein engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Sale of RUO (Research Use Only) products including LuxSit Pro luciferase kits, NovoBody binder proteins, NovoLISA assay kits, and LuxLink conjugation systems. Products sold directly and through distribution partners like Fisher Scientific.
2. Licensing Royalties: Licensing agreements with partners like Bio-Techne for exclusive commercial rights to NovoBody Duo molecules. Receives upfront, supply, and royalty payments from partners who commercialize products incorporating Monod's AI-designed proteins.
3. Partnership Supply Revenue: Supply of NovoBody binding proteins to partners like Gator Bio for integration into their products. Monod receives supply payments and royalties for products commercialized by partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Monod Bio designs, manufactures, and sells AI-engineered de novo proteins for life sciences research and diagnostics. Its core products include LuxSit Pro luciferase reporters, NovoBody binder proteins (antibody replacements), the NovoLISA homogeneous immunoassay platform, and LuxLink antibody conjugation kits, sold directly, through Fisher Scientific, and via OEM licensing to life sciences tools and diagnostics partners.

Product overview

Monod Bio offers a platform-plus-products architecture centered on AI-powered de novo protein design. The core technology enables rapid generation of novel proteins for diagnostics and life science tools. Key products include LuxSit Pro luciferase assay systems (whole protein and split formats for reporting and protein-protein interaction studies), NovoBody binder proteins (~27 kDa computationally designed binding molecules serving as antibody replacements in Mono, Duo, and Fc fusion formats), and the NovoLISA immunoassay platform combining NovoBody binders with LuxSit luciferase for rapid no-wash detection assays. LuxLink conjugation kits enable custom assay development. Products are sold direct and through distribution partners including Fisher Scientific, with commercial licensing of NovoBody Duo molecules to Bio-Techne and integration into Gator Bio's biosensor platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NovoBody: AI-designed binding proteins that function as next-generation antibody replacements for research and diagnostics applications.
• LuxSit Pro
• NovoLISA
• LuxLink

Products and services

• LuxSit Pro Luciferase Assay System World's first fully de novo luciferase enzyme system available in whole-protein format, generating high-intensity glow-type luminescence with proprietary synthetic substrate and optimized reaction buffer for in vitro assays. Sold to life sciences researchers and OEM partners.
• LuxSit sPro Protein:Protein Interaction System Split LuxSit Pro luciferase reporter system composed of a small fragment (~1.5 kDa) and large fragment (~12 kDa) that reconstitute upon protein-protein interaction, enabling sensitive detection of PPIs for research and biosensor creation.
• NovoBody Binders AI-designed de novo protein binding molecules (~27 kDa) that function as next-generation antibody replacements, available in Mono, Duo (bispecific), and Fc fusion formats with high affinity (<nM), superior stability, and rapid custom development for research, biosensors, and diagnostic applications.
• NovoLISA Platform with CRP Assay Rapid no-wash homogeneous immunoassay platform combining NovoBody binders with LuxSit luciferase reporter, delivering results in under 15 minutes via a simple mix-and-read protocol. Currently offers a CRP assay; additional analytes (IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-2, cTnI) in development.
• LuxLink for NovoLISA Conjugation System Rapid antibody conjugation kit for custom NovoLISA assay development, enabling conjugation of LuxSit sPro fragments to antibody pairs in under four hours for simplified custom immunoassay development with minimal interference and high sensitivity.

Quantifiable outcome

• LuxSit Pro is 150-fold brighter than its academic predecessor LuxSit
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Gator BiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2025Partnership to integrate Monod's AI-designed NovoBody binding proteins into Gator Bio's biolayer interferometry (BLI) biosensor platform. Monod supplies NovoBody proteins, Gator Bio handles manufacturing, sales, and marketing. Product launch anticipated in first half of 2026. Gator launched HIS XT probes with Monod's NovoBody technology in February 2026.
• Bio-TechnecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 18 November 2025Licensing agreement granting Bio-Techne exclusive commercial rights to a specific subset of Monod's NovoBody Duo molecules, AI-designed bispecific binding proteins. Partnership enhances Bio-Techne's portfolio for research and diagnostics with customizable proteins for advanced therapeutics development.
• Gates Foundation Grand ChallengescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2025$750,000 grant to develop point-of-care diagnostic test for preeclampsia using AI-designed proteins. Built on NovoLISA platform combining NovoBody binders and LuxSit luciferase. Aims to provide fast, affordable diagnosis for low-resource settings to improve maternal health outcomes.
• Gates FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 September 2025$1.5 million grant to develop rapid urine-based diagnostic test for tuberculosis using AI-designed NovoBodies. Test aims to improve TB detection in low-resource settings using lateral-flow assay format. Project addresses critical gaps where traditional sputum-based diagnostics are unavailable.
• University of Washington Institute for Protein DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonod Bio is a spinout from the David Baker Lab at UW IPD. Technology originated from research at this institution. David Baker serves as Scientific Advisor and co-founder.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Profluent Bio: Profluent applies AI to protein design and engineering, developing novel protein sequences from scratch using foundation models. Competes directly with Monod's AI-powered de novo protein design platform across research tools and therapeutic applications.
• AbCellera Biologics: AbCellera is an AI-powered antibody discovery platform that partners with pharma to develop therapeutic antibodies. While focused on antibodies rather than de novo proteins, it competes for the same AI-driven binding protein opportunity Monod targets with NovoBody.
• Generate Biomedicines: Generate Biomedicines is a generative biology company developing AI-designed protein therapeutics, with similar de novo protein design capabilities and a comparable platform-plus-pipeline model targeting therapeutics and diagnostics.
• Cradle Bio: Cradle uses generative AI to design and optimize proteins for biotech applications, with a similar platform model serving life sciences researchers and bioengineering teams. Comparable in technology approach and customer segments to Monod's AI protein design capabilities.
• Absci: Absci combines generative AI with synthetic biology to design novel protein therapeutics, including antibody alternatives. Overlaps with Monod in AI-driven protein design for research and therapeutic applications, though with a heavier therapeutic pipeline focus.

Broad incumbents

• Bio-Techne: Bio-Techne is a large life sciences reagents and tools company with extensive recombinant protein catalog, including antibodies and assay kits. Comparable as both a Monod licensing partner (NovoBody Duo) and a broad incumbent in the research reagent market Monod targets.
• PerkinElmer: PerkinElmer provides a broad portfolio of life sciences research tools including immunoassay platforms, luminescence readers, and protein analysis reagents. Competes with Monod's NovoLISA platform across immunoassay and diagnostics applications.
• Promega Corporation: Promega is a major life sciences tools company offering luciferase reporters, protein interaction assays, and bioluminescence detection reagents that compete with LuxSit Pro. Direct incumbent in Monod's core RUO market for bioluminescent reporter tools.

Emerging players

• Gator Bio: Gator Bio manufactures biolayer interferometry (BLI) biosensors and is Monod's co-development partner for HIS XT probes incorporating NovoBody technology. Direct commercialization partner that brings Monod's protein designs into the biosensor market.
• Neoleukin Therapeutics: Neoleukin is a computational protein design company co-founded by Monod Bio's founders (Daniel Silva Manzano and Alfredo Quijano Rubio) that develops de novo cytokine mimetics for therapeutic applications. Sister company with shared founding team and overlapping technology origins.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/monodbio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors8 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Monod Bio