Lifecore Biomedical
Lifecore Biomedical is a publicly-traded CDMO specializing in sterile injectable pharmaceutical manufacturing and sodium hyaluronate production for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies, leveraging proprietary high-viscosity filtration technology across its 248,000 sq ft Minnesota campus.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1965
- HeadquartersChaska, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Lifecore Biomedical does
Lifecore Biomedical (NASDAQ: LFCR) is a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) headquartered in Chaska, Minnesota, specializing in sterile injectable pharmaceutical manufacturing. Founded in 1965 and spun off from Landec Corporation in November 2022, the company operates across a 248,000 sq ft campus comprising headquarters, manufacturing, and warehouse facilities. With a 40+ year global regulatory track record, multi-compendial quality management system, and products that have impacted more than 150 million patients worldwide, Lifecore serves pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device customers requiring aseptic fill-finish, process development, analytical testing, and stability services for sterile injectables.
The company's technology platform centers on proprietary High-Pressure Sterile Filtration (HPSF) operating up to 900 psi, enabling processing of high-viscosity formulations exceeding 100,000 cP that standard CDMO equipment cannot handle. It operates ISO 5 Grade A aseptic filling lines for vials (2R-100R), syringes (0.5mL-10mL), and cartridges under Annex 1 conditions, with phase-appropriate compliance for pre-clinical through commercial programs. Lifecore also produces sodium hyaluronate (NaHy) through bacterial fermentation, making it the only CDMO that vertically integrates its own NaHy raw material supply with sterile fill-finish services. Other differentiated offerings include Corgel BioHydrogel (licensed from Cleveland Clinic) and methacrylated sodium hyaluronate for 3D bioprinting and biological scaffolding.
Lifecore generates revenue through two primary streams: project-based CDMO manufacturing contracts (clinical and commercial) and unit-priced sodium hyaluronate product sales (research-grade powder at $150-790 per bottle, Corgel BioHydrogel kits, methacrylated NaHy, and GMP custom modifications). The go-to-market approach combines enterprise field sales for CDMO contracts with e-commerce ordering for smaller research customers and an active presence at industry conferences (DCAT Week, BIO International, CPhI, CDMO Live). Management has set 2029 targets of $212-225M in revenue and 25%+ Adjusted EBITDA margins, contingent on lifting capacity utilization from current levels toward 60%, supported by recent additions of seven late-stage program agreements in seven months.
Lifecore Biomedical firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lifecore Biomedical
- Legal name
- Lifecore Biomedical LLC
- Website
- http://www.lifecore.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1965
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Lifecore Biomedical is a publicly-traded CDMO specializing in sterile injectable pharmaceutical manufacturing and sodium hyaluronate production for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies, leveraging proprietary high-viscosity filtration technology across its 248,000 sq ft Minnesota campus.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lifecore Biomedical industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sterile Injectable CDMO
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sterile Fill-Finish & Aseptic Manufacturing CDMO (HLAGABAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Drug Substance–Drug Product Integrated CDMO (HLAGABAG), Clinical Trial Material (CTM) Manufacturing & Supply CDMO (HLAGABAK), Small-Molecule Drug Product (Solid/Oral/Parenteral) CDMO (HLAGABAB)
Keywords
Where Lifecore Biomedical is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chaska
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Lifecore Biomedical business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- CDMO Manufacturing Services: Contract development and manufacturing services for sterile injectable pharmaceutical products including formulation, fill-finish, analytical testing, and packaging. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts with pharmaceutical and biotech companies for clinical and commercial manufacturing.
- Sodium Hyaluronate Products: Sale of sodium hyaluronate (NaHy) in various grades including research-use, GMP injectable-grade, hydrogels (Corgel BioHydrogel), and methacrylated NaHy. Products sold in standardized molecular weight ranges with pricing based on quantity and specifications.
- Development Services: Technical transfer and process development services for customers, including formulation optimization, tech transfer, and clinical batch manufacturing for early-stage programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Research-Use Sodium Hyaluronate 1g bottles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Research-Use Sodium Hyaluronate 5g bottles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Corgel BioHydrogel Kits |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Methacrylated Sodium Hyaluronate (MeHa) |
| Other | Multi-year contract | CDMO Services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Lifecore Biomedical product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lifecore Biomedical operates as a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) providing end-to-end sterile injectable pharmaceutical services, including process development, aseptic formulation, fill-finish manufacturing (vials, syringes, cartridges), analytical testing, stability studies, and regulatory-compliant packaging. The company also produces premium sodium hyaluronate (NaHy) via microbial fermentation, sold as research-grade powder, hydrogels, methacrylated variants, and custom GMP-modified products for use as API, excipient, or research material.
Product overview
Lifecore Biomedical operates as a dual-business contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in sterile injectable pharmaceuticals and sodium hyaluronate (NaHy) products. The company offers CDMO Services as its primary platform, encompassing Process Development, Aseptic Manufacturing (fill-finish for vials, syringes, and cartridges), Analytical & Stability Testing, and Quality & Compliance support. Alongside the CDMO platform, Lifecore manufactures a portfolio of Sodium Hyaluronate Products including Research-Use Powder, Corgel BioHydrogel, Methacrylated Sodium Hyaluronate (MeHa), and GMP/Custom Modifications. The CDMO services leverage NaHy manufacturing expertise to support complex injectable formulations, while the NaHy product line serves as both a standalone offering and demonstrates manufacturing capabilities to prospective CDMO customers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Corgel® BioHydrogel: Biocompatible hyaluronan hydrogel technology licensed from Cleveland Clinic, used for research purposes in drug delivery applications. Meets ISO 10993 safety and toxicity standards.
- Methacrylated Sodium Hyaluronate (MeHa)
Products and services
- CDMO Services
Quantifiable outcome
- No batch rejected in 1.5 years of operations with 11.5 million vials manufactured and released
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Lifecore Biomedical
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Lifecore Biomedical technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Lifecore Biomedical partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered growth, flagship and key.
- Global Pharmaceutical Company (unnamed)growthManufacturing agreement for injectable suspension product for neurological disorders. Lifecore handling technical transfer and commercial production at U.S. operations. Seventh late-stage program addition in seven months.
- IndomogrowthDevelopment services agreement for DT-001 drug candidate (corticosteroid for inflammatory acne lesions) with Indomo's ClearPen self-injection device. Lifecore producing engineering and clinical batches for Phase 2 trials.
- Large Global Pharmaceutical Customer (unnamed)flagshipCDMO master services agreement for development services and technology transfer of injectable pharmaceutical product. Expected to become one of Lifecore's top five commercial customers. Second multinational agreement in three months.
- Global Pharmaceutical Company (unnamed)flagshipSelected as new commercial manufacturing partner to transfer manufacturing of a leading injectable pharmaceutical product. Represents company's second agreement with the same multinational organization, emphasizing growing reputation.
- PolyPeptidekeyCollaboration agreement providing integrated, end-to-end solution for peptide-based pharmaceutical customers. Combines PolyPeptide's peptide manufacturing with Lifecore's fill-finish capabilities.
- SHL MedicalkeyCo-marketing partnership agreement to enable both companies to provide unparalleled guidance in CDMO services and best-in-class options for drug delivery device development.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lifecore Biomedical competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Societal CDMO: Small-cap public CDMO focused on sterile injectable manufacturing for commercial and clinical-stage products. Highly comparable size, business model, and customer base to Lifecore.
- Catalent: Large-scale CDMO with broad sterile injectable fill-finish capabilities and a global manufacturing footprint. Catalent competes with Lifecore for pharmaceutical and biotech customers needing aseptic manufacturing, though its portfolio is far broader.
- Vetter Pharma: Specialist CDMO focused on aseptic fill-finish of sterile injectables including prefilled syringes, cartridges, and vials. Highly comparable to Lifecore's core CDMO service offering and target customer base.
- Recipharm: European-headquartered CDMO providing sterile fill-finish and injectable manufacturing services to pharma and biotech customers. Direct competitor for sterile injectable contract manufacturing contracts.
- Alcami Corporation: CDMO offering sterile injectable development and manufacturing services to pharma and biotech customers. Comparable service mix in fill-finish and analytical testing for injectable products.
- Bloomage Biotech: Global leader in hyaluronic acid/sodium hyaluronate fermentation and supply for medical, aesthetic, and pharmaceutical applications. Comparable to Lifecore's NaHy product line and competes for OEM pharma customers.
Broad incumbents
- Lonza Group: Global CDMO incumbent with sterile injectable, biologic, and API manufacturing services. Comparable to Lifecore in serving pharma and biotech customers seeking complex injectable manufacturing, but at substantially larger scale.
- WuXi AppTec / WuXi Biologics: Large Asian CDMO offering sterile injectable and biologic fill-finish services globally. Competes with Lifecore for pharma outsourcing customers, particularly in technical transfer and commercial manufacturing.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific (Patheon): Operates one of the largest pharma services networks through Patheon, providing sterile injectable and aseptic fill-finish capabilities. Competes broadly with Lifecore for pharmaceutical CDMO customers.
Emerging players
- Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing: US-based emerging CDMO specializing in aseptic fill-finish of injectable products. Comparable in scale and capability profile to Lifecore, serving similar small-to-mid pharma and biotech customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lifecore Biomedical social profiles
Digital presenceLifecore Biomedical compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Lifecore Biomedical financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lifecore Biomedical leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Lifecore Biomedical funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lifecore Biomedical M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A5 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lifecore Biomedical
What does Lifecore Biomedical do?
Lifecore Biomedical operates as a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) providing end-to-end sterile injectable pharmaceutical services, including process development, aseptic formulation, fill-finish manufacturing (vials, syringes, cartridges), analytical testing, stability studies, and regulatory-compliant packaging. The company also produces premium sodium hyaluronate (NaHy) via microbial fermentation, sold as research-grade powder, hydrogels, methacrylated variants, and custom GMP-modified products for use as API, excipient, or research material.
Is Lifecore Biomedical a public or private company?
Lifecore Biomedical is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Lifecore Biomedical founded?
Lifecore Biomedical was founded in 1965. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Lifecore Biomedical based?
Lifecore Biomedical is headquartered in Chaska, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lifecore Biomedical make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. CDMO Manufacturing Services are the primary driver. The others are sodium Hyaluronate Products and development Services.
Who are Lifecore Biomedical's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Societal CDMO, Catalent, Vetter Pharma, Recipharm, Alcami Corporation and Bloomage Biotech. Broad incumbents are Lonza Group, WuXi AppTec / WuXi Biologics and Thermo Fisher Scientific (Patheon). Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing is listed as an emerging player.
Does Lifecore Biomedical have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lifecore Biomedical.
What industry is Lifecore Biomedical in?
Lifecore Biomedical's product category is Sterile Injectable CDMO. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGABAH, Sterile Fill-Finish & Aseptic Manufacturing CDMO, with a secondary code of HLAGABAG, Drug Substance–Drug Product Integrated CDMO. Its NAICS code is 325412 and its SIC code is 2834.