Likarda
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersCambridge, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Likarda firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Likarda
- Legal name
- Likarda, Inc.
- Website
- https://likarda.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Likarda industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cell Therapy & Biologic Drug Delivery Platform
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Process Development & Tech Transfer Services (upstream/downstream) (HLAAAKAF)
Keywords
Where Likarda is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cambridge
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Likarda business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Feasibility Studies: Revenue-generating feasibility studies with top-tier biopharma and biotech companies to validate compatibility of CSS® platform with partner therapeutics. Structured as paid engagements with 6-8 week timelines.
- Licensing Revenue: Flexible licensing model including field-of-use or indication-specific licensing (exclusive or non-exclusive) with stage-gated terms: feasibility to development to commercialization. Economics include upfront fees, milestone payments, and possible royalties.
- Equipment Sales: EncapSure™ CSS® encapsulation instrument sales to CDMOs and partners for in-house use, with recurring revenue potential through services and consumables.
- Co-development Partnerships: Revenue-generating partnerships for co-development of delivery solutions with biopharma companies, expanding growing intellectual property portfolio and de-risking regulatory pathways for partners.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom feasibility study programs for validation of CSS® compatibility |
| Licensing/ royalties | Multi-year contract | Licensing terms for technology access and commercialization |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Likarda product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Likarda develops and licenses a proprietary hydrogel-based drug delivery platform called Core-Shell Spherification (CSS), which encapsulates cells, biologics, and small molecules in tunable hydrogel shells to enable sustained release, immune shielding, and improved stability. The company monetizes this platform through paid feasibility studies, stage-gated licensing deals with upfront fees, milestone payments, and royalties, co-development partnerships with biopharma and biotech firms, and direct sales of its EncapSure CSS encapsulation equipment to CDMOs. It also offers productized sub-brands (VitaCell, ViscoCell, EnduraCell, LiberaCell, AegisCell, AegisBio, NovoSphere, Provia) and an AI-powered formulation tool (PPA) that accelerate partner drug delivery programs.
Product overview
Likarda is a hydrogel-based drug delivery technology company offering a modular platform centered on Core-Shell Spherification (CSS), the first fully customizable hydrogel encapsulation technology for cell therapies, biologics, and small molecules. The portfolio spans three solution categories: Cell Therapies (VitaCell for timed cell release, ViscoCell for joint applications, EnduraCell for long-term immune protection); Cryopreservation and Logistics (LiberaCell and AegisCell for cell protection, AegisBio for biologics); and Large and Small Molecule Delivery (NovoSphere for lifecycle extension, Provia for off-the-shelf injectable gel). Supporting technology includes Predictive Polymer Analytics AI platform for formulation optimization and EncapSure equipment for GMP-scale encapsulation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- VitaCell™: Injectable hydrogel for timed release of therapeutic cells. A biodegradable hydrogel-based delivery system designed to encapsulate therapeutic cells and release them over a controlled period within the body.
- ViscoCell™
- EnduraCell™
- LiberaCell™
- AegisCell™
- AegisBio™
- NovoSphere™
- Provia™
- Predictive Polymer Analytics™ (PPA™)
Products and services
- Core-Shell Spherification (CSS) Platform Proprietary hydrogel encapsulation platform that surrounds cells, peptides, proteins, antibodies, and scaffolds in injectable hydrogel microbeads for sustained delivery, immune shielding, and controlled release from hours to months. Sold to biopharma, biotech, and CDMOs through feasibility studies, licensing, and co-development.
- VitaCell Biodegradable hydrogel microbead delivery system for controlled cell therapy release, compatible with immune cells, regenerative medicine, and localized treatments including CAR-T cells. Eliminates the need for surgical retrieval and supports precision dosing.
- ViscoCell Injectable stem cell hydrogel optimized for high-motion, load-bearing environments such as joints. Formulated with viscosity and crosslinking properties that mimic synovial fluid to support cartilage regeneration and osteoarthritis treatment.
- EnduraCell Long-term immune-protective cell encapsulation platform providing sustained delivery of therapeutic cells without systemic immunosuppression. Enables durable, immune-shielded treatments for diabetes, liver disease, and other chronic conditions.
- LiberaCell Cryopreservation system using hydrogel microbeads to protect sensitive cells during freezing, storage, and shipping without liquid nitrogen. Enables dry ice transport with release-on-demand recovery at the point of use.
- AegisCell Ready-to-use, bead-free protective gel matrix for flexible storage and transport of fresh and frozen cell therapies. Preserves cell viability without -80°C or liquid nitrogen and fully dissolves with mild buffer.
- AegisBio Non-bead hydrogel that protects large molecule biologics during shipping and storage. Prevents aggregation, shields therapeutics from environmental stress, and preserves potency under challenging transit conditions.
- NovoSphere Reformulation platform for drug lifecycle extension, enabling pharmaceutical companies to convert existing biologics and small molecules into long-acting therapies. Supports 505(b)(2) filings through customized encapsulation with tunable release profiles spanning hours to months.
- Provia Off-the-shelf injectable polymer gel for targeted, slow-release delivery of biologics, small molecules, and diagnostic agents. Forms a localized depot for sustained release without requiring a CSS instrument.
- Predictive Polymer Analytics (PPA) AI-powered formulation design platform using retrieval-augmented generation on Likarda's proprietary terabyte-scale database of polymer performance and encapsulation chemistries. Recommends optimal polymer backbones and conditions for complex therapies including cells, exosomes, peptides, and large-molecule biologics.
- EncapSure CSS Encapsulation Equipment Closed-system CSS encapsulation instrument for automated microbead generation, modular fluid control, combined rinse and crosslinking workflows, and integrated QC. GMP-ready for preclinical through commercial use, sold directly to CDMOs and partners for in-house GMP manufacturing.
- CSS Feasibility Study Structured 6-8 week engagement partnering with clients to design and test customized CSS encapsulation solutions tailored to specific therapeutic goals and product needs. Includes dedicated program leads, customized hydrogel formulations, progress meetings, and final reports.
- CSS Preclinical Encapsulation Services Preclinical encapsulation services supporting PK/PD studies, dosing frequency optimization, biodistribution assessment, and immune shielding in rodent and large animal models for biopharma and biotech partners.
Quantifiable outcome
- Liver spheroids maintained >80% viability and function post-thaw using LiberaCell™
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Likarda
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Likarda technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature4 records
Likarda partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Tiny Cargo CompanycoreStrategic partnership integrating Likarda's CSS® platform with Tiny Cargo's vesicle-based technologies to address key drug delivery challenges including poor stability, rapid clearance, and lack of localization. Focus on advancing delivery of biologics, peptides, and small molecules through combined hydrogel encapsulation and vesicle-mediated transport.
- Axio BioPharmacoreStrategic partnership to accelerate biologic drug development and delivery. Axio BioPharma brings AI biomanufacturing capabilities while Likarda contributes CSS® encapsulation technology for next-generation delivery solutions.
- Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationcoreGrant funding to develop advanced cell therapy using CSS® hydrogel encapsulation for antibody-secreting cells targeting infectious diseases (malaria, HIV, tuberculosis) in developing countries. Aims to achieve 6-12 month antibody release improving treatment adherence.
- VitalTE Life SciencescorePartnership to develop extended-release injectable hormone therapies using Likarda's CSS® platform technology for improved patient compliance and therapeutic outcomes.
- Cold Chain TechnologiescoreExclusive partnership to revolutionize cell therapy material transportation and storage by integrating AegisCell™ into Cold Chain Technologies' logistics solutions. Enables dry ice shipment of cell therapies without sacrificing viability or function, making global distribution simpler and more cost-effective.
- Evia BiominorNovel tech cryo partnership focused on cryopreservation solutions combining Evia Bio's technologies with Likarda's LiberaCell™ platform.
- eQcellminorLicense option agreement for application of Likarda's technology to eQcell's cell therapy products.
- ARMI (Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute)minorListed as strategic partner in regenerative medicine ecosystem, collaborating on manufacturing and commercialization of cell therapy technologies.
- NIH - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesminorListed as strategic partner, providing funding and research collaboration for diabetes and digestive/kidney disease cell therapy applications.
- EDGE Animal HealthminorListed as strategic partner for animal health applications using Likarda's cell therapy delivery technologies.
- BioTools InnovatorminorListed as strategic partner in biotech tools ecosystem supporting innovation in biologics and cell therapy development.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Likarda competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Lonza: Global CDMO offering mammalian biomanufacturing, cell and gene therapy services, and bioprocessing technologies. Comparable to Likarda in serving biopharma with delivery and manufacturing solutions, particularly in cell therapy.
- Sartorius: Bioprocessing and lab products provider serving biopharma manufacturing, including cell and gene therapy workflows. Comparable as an upstream enabler of biopharma manufacturing that Likarda's CDMO customers depend on.
- Catalent: Major CDMO with biologics, cell therapy, and drug product capabilities serving biopharma partners. Comparable as a delivery/encapsulation partner to biopharma and CDMO clients, though at much greater scale and breadth.
- Bio-Techne: Life science tools and consumables company supporting cell therapy, biologics, and diagnostics R&D and manufacturing. Comparable as a supplier of enabling tools and reagents consumed by Likarda's biopharma and CDMO customers.
- Halozyme Therapeutics: Established drug delivery platform company using its ENHANZE® technology to enable subcutaneous delivery of biologics. Comparable as a platform-based drug delivery licensor to biopharma, but at much larger scale and with commercialized technology.
Emerging players
- Aspect Biosystems: Develops 3D bioprinted tissue therapeutics and microfluidic encapsulation platforms. Comparable to Likarda in applying hydrogel/biomaterial encapsulation to cell-based therapeutics, though focused on tissue printing rather than delivery microbeads.
- Evotec: Contract development organization with cell therapy, biologics, and small molecule capabilities serving biopharma. Comparable as a discovery-to-manufacturing platform partner serving similar biopharma customers as Likarda.
- PharmaCyte Biotech: Clinical-stage biotech developing cell-in-capsule therapies for diabetes and cancer using proprietary encapsulation. Directly comparable to Likarda's EnduraCell™ platform in encapsulating insulin-producing cells for diabetes.
- Pluristem Therapeutics: Cell therapy company developing placenta-derived cell therapies with proprietary 3D manufacturing. Comparable as a cell therapy platform player, though focused on the cell product itself rather than the delivery/encapsulation technology.
Others
- Pacira BioSciences: Specialty drug delivery company built around long-acting injectable depots and sustained-release formulations. Comparable to Likarda's NovoSphere/Provia product lines that extend dosing intervals of large-molecule biologics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Likarda social profiles
Digital presenceLikarda financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Likarda leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Likarda funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Likarda M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Likarda
What does Likarda do?
Likarda develops and licenses a proprietary hydrogel-based drug delivery platform called Core-Shell Spherification (CSS), which encapsulates cells, biologics, and small molecules in tunable hydrogel shells to enable sustained release, immune shielding, and improved stability. The company monetizes this platform through paid feasibility studies, stage-gated licensing deals with upfront fees, milestone payments, and royalties, co-development partnerships with biopharma and biotech firms, and direct sales of its EncapSure CSS encapsulation equipment to CDMOs. It also offers productized sub-brands (VitaCell, ViscoCell, EnduraCell, LiberaCell, AegisCell, AegisBio, NovoSphere, Provia) and an AI-powered formulation tool (PPA) that accelerate partner drug delivery programs.
Is Likarda a public or private company?
Likarda is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Likarda founded?
Likarda was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Likarda based?
Likarda is headquartered in Cambridge, United States, in the North America region.
How does Likarda make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Feasibility Studies are the primary driver. The others are licensing Revenue, equipment Sales and co-development Partnerships.
Who are Likarda's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Lonza, Sartorius, Catalent, Bio-Techne and Halozyme Therapeutics. Emerging players are Aspect Biosystems, Evotec, PharmaCyte Biotech and Pluristem Therapeutics. Pacira BioSciences is listed as an others.
Does Likarda have an API?
No public API is recorded for Likarda.
What industry is Likarda in?
Likarda's product category is Cell Therapy & Biologic Drug Delivery Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAKAF, Process Development & Tech Transfer Services (upstream/downstream). Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2834.