Heligenics
Heligenics operates the GigaAssay platform, a high-throughput functional genomics system that screens hundreds of thousands of biologic variants in human cells to map variant function, licensing the technology and co-developing biologics with pharmaceutical and biotech partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersLas Vegas, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Heligenics does
Heligenics, Inc. is a Las Vegas-based biotechnology company that operates the proprietary GigaAssay™ platform, a high-throughput, high-content functional genomics system that screens hundreds of thousands of protein variants simultaneously in human cells to map variant function through its MEGA-Maps™ output. The platform uses UMI-barcoded clonal distributions to functionally characterize protein variants, chimeric constructs, and engineered biologics without physical separation, and has demonstrated 95% accuracy with 100% positive predictive value in a HER2 benchmark study. The company monetizes through four channels: licensing the GigaAssay platform to pharmaceutical and biotech firms, custom biologics co-development partnerships, data licensing through a Public Data Portal, and platform spin-offs that leverage the technology in specific therapeutic areas. Its named customer base is thin, with primary commercial engagement still in development; pipeline assets include interferon beta biobetters and biosimilars, interferon-alpha2 variants, interferon chimeras, incretin variants (GLP-1, GIP, GCG), and a HER2+ breast cancer companion diagnostic, with the October 2025 launch of Altagenics via GLD Partners establishing a replicable spin-off model for new therapeutic areas. The company is founder-controlled by CEO Martin Schiller, has received a $2.5M Nevada Knowledge Fund grant plus two NIH SBIR awards and several undisclosed funding rounds totaling roughly $11M+, and maintains a small team in the 11-50 range.
Heligenics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Heligenics
- Legal name
- Heligenics, Inc.
- Website
- https://heligenics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Heligenics operates the GigaAssay platform, a high-throughput functional genomics system that screens hundreds of thousands of biologic variants in human cells to map variant function, licensing the technology and co-developing biologics with pharmaceutical and biotech partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Heligenics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biologics Drug Discovery Platform
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (6215)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- AI/ML-Enabled Biologic Discovery Platforms (computational design, in silico screening) (HLAAAIAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization) (HLAAAIAC), Oncology Diagnostics (tumor profiling, MRD, liquid biopsy) (HLAAALAE), Molecular Diagnostics & Genomics Laboratories (HLAFAMAE)
Keywords
Where Heligenics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Las Vegas
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Heligenics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Technology Licensing: Licensing the proprietary GigaAssay platform to pharmaceutical and biotech companies for drug discovery applications
- Custom Biologics Development: Co-development of innovative biologics with partner organizations, creating custom biologic drug candidates tailored to partner needs
- Data Licensing: Providing access to proprietary functional datasets and variant libraries through the Public Data Portal for researchers and companies
- Platform Spin-offs: Launching spin-off companies (like Altagenics) that leverage the GigaAssay platform for specific therapeutic areas, with strategic and financial backing from partners like GLD Partners LP
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Partnership and Licensing arrangements |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Heligenics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Heligenics operates a proprietary GigaAssay™ high-throughput functional genomics platform that simultaneously screens hundreds of thousands of biologic variant libraries in human cells and outputs MEGA-Maps™ of variant function. On top of the platform the company runs Custom Biologics co-development partnerships, a HER2+ breast cancer companion diagnostic, a free Public Data Portal with example datasets, and a pipeline of licensable Interferon and Incretin biologic candidates.
Product overview
Heligenics is a biotechnology company offering a unified platform-based approach centered on its proprietary GigaAssay™ technology and MEGA-Maps™ functional mapping system. The core offering consists of Custom Biologics services for partner co-development, a Public Data Portal for data access, and a pipeline of proprietary therapeutic assets including Interferon variants (biobetters, biosimilars, chimeras) and Incretin candidates. The company also provides a HER2+ breast cancer companion diagnostic test. All offerings leverage the GigaAssay platform's high-throughput screening of biologic variants in human cells.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- GigaAssay™ Platform Proprietary high-throughput, high-content screening platform that creates MEGA-Maps of protein variant function by simultaneously screening hundreds of thousands of biologic variants in human cells; used by pharmaceutical and biotech partners for drug discovery.
- MEGA-Maps™ Functional mapping outputs that measure the impact of amino-acid substitutions in target proteins on molecular function or cellular processes in human cells, providing high-resolution structure–activity relationship data.
- Custom Biologics Service Co-development partnership service that builds custom biologic drug candidates for pharma and biotech partners, including variant library construction, cell-based GigaAssay screening, and lead optimization.
- Public Data Portal Free interactive portal offering example GigaAssay datasets for HIV Tat transcription factor and HER2 oncogene, giving researchers access to functional genomics data before commercial engagement.
- HER2+ Breast Cancer Companion Diagnostic First-of-its-kind precision prescription genetic test that uses GigaAssay technology to match HER2+ breast cancer patients to Tykerb, Tukysa, or Nerlynx based on tumor genetics.
- Interferon Beta Biobetters and Biosimilars Program Licensable pipeline assets of improved and comparable Interferon-beta biologic candidates for Multiple Sclerosis, featuring precision glycosylation, reduced immunogenicity, and EC50 comparable to reference drugs for biosimilars.
- Interferon-alpha2 Variant Program Licensable pipeline of more than 350 recombinant human Interferon-α2 variants with precision modifications for improved potency in cancer and immunology indications.
- Interferon Chimera Program Licensable dual-gene agonist biologic candidates combining multiple Interferon genes into single hybrid molecules with improved activity versus single-gene interferon-alpha2 products.
- Incretin Variants Program (GLP-1, GIP, GCG) Licensable pipeline of GLP-1, GIP, and GCG incretin receptor variants and multi-agonist candidates for obesity and metabolic disorders.
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% accuracy, 100% sensitivity, 100% PPV in HER2 gain-of-function benchmark study
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Heligenics
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Heligenics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature5 records
Heligenics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- The Jackson Laboratory (JAX)coreCollaboration to make available the functional output of Variants of Unknown Significance (VUS) throughout key portions of the ERBB2 gene through the JAX Clinical Knowledgebase (CKB). The partnership helps modernize and expand variant interpretation for key cancer genes, with benefits including identifying impact of thousands of ERBB2 mutations and testing 95% of possible mutants for functional impact in 5 months.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Heligenics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AbCellera Biologics: Public antibody/biologic discovery platform that uses high-throughput single-cell screening to identify therapeutic candidates from natural immune repertoires. Operates a similar technology-licensing and partnership-driven business model with pharma clients.
- Ginkgo Bioworks: Cell engineering platform company that uses high-throughput screening and synthetic biology to develop engineered organisms and proteins, with a similar platform-licensing and spin-out (e.g., Motif FoodWorks) business model.
- Insitro: AI/ML-enabled drug discovery platform combining machine learning with high-throughput biology to discover and optimize therapeutic candidates, sharing Heligenics' emphasis on data-driven biologic discovery at scale.
- Twist Bioscience: DNA synthesis platform that enables construction of variant libraries and gene fragments at scale, providing key input technology for functional genomics screens and overlapping with Heligenics' library-screening workflow.
- Recursion Pharmaceuticals: AI-enabled drug discovery company combining high-throughput biology, automated screening, and machine learning to build proprietary datasets for therapeutic discovery, sharing Heligenics' emphasis on data moats and platform-based discovery.
Emerging players
- Cradle Bio: AI protein design platform focused on engineering biologics with improved properties using machine learning models, representing a competitive AI-first approach to the same biologic optimization problem Heligenics addresses with wet-lab screening.
- Generate Biomedicines: Generative AI platform for designing novel protein therapeutics across multiple therapeutic areas, competing for the same biologic-discovery value pool with a more computationally oriented approach.
Broad incumbents
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Large biopharmaceutical company with proprietary high-throughput functional genomics capabilities (Regeneron Genetics Center) and a successful track record of biologic drug discovery, representing both a potential partner and a competitor for biologic-discovery customers.
- Amgen: Major biopharmaceutical manufacturer with extensive internal biologics discovery and protein engineering capabilities (e.g., bispecific T-cell engagers), a potential large-pharma customer that could either license Heligenics' platform or build similar capabilities internally.
- Schrödinger, Inc. Computational chemistry and biology platform serving pharma R&D with molecular simulation and AI tools, representing an alternative in silico approach to the same drug-discovery optimization problem Heligenics addresses with wet-lab functional screening.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Heligenics social profiles
Digital presenceHeligenics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Heligenics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Heligenics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Heligenics 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 Heligenics
What does Heligenics do?
Heligenics operates a proprietary GigaAssay™ high-throughput functional genomics platform that simultaneously screens hundreds of thousands of biologic variant libraries in human cells and outputs MEGA-Maps™ of variant function. On top of the platform the company runs Custom Biologics co-development partnerships, a HER2+ breast cancer companion diagnostic, a free Public Data Portal with example datasets, and a pipeline of licensable Interferon and Incretin biologic candidates.
Is Heligenics a public or private company?
Heligenics is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Heligenics founded?
Heligenics was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Heligenics based?
Heligenics is headquartered in Las Vegas, United States, in the North America region.
How does Heligenics make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Technology Licensing is the primary driver. The others are custom Biologics Development, data Licensing and platform Spin-offs.
Who are Heligenics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AbCellera Biologics, Ginkgo Bioworks, Insitro, Twist Bioscience and Recursion Pharmaceuticals. Emerging players are Cradle Bio and Generate Biomedicines. Broad incumbents are Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Amgen and Schrödinger, Inc..
Does Heligenics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Heligenics.
What industry is Heligenics in?
Heligenics's product category is Biologics Drug Discovery Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAIAE, AI/ML-Enabled Biologic Discovery Platforms (computational design, in silico screening), with a secondary code of HLAAAIAC, Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.