Locate Bio
Locate Bio is a UK clinical-stage orthobiologics company developing polymer-encapsulated rhBMP-2 bone graft substitutes and instructive tissue scaffolds for spine and orthopedic surgeons, with LDGraft in US clinical trials for spinal fusion.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersBeeston, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Locate Bio does
Locate Bio is a UK-based clinical-stage orthobiologics company developing next-generation bone graft substitutes and regenerative medicine products for musculoskeletal applications. Its portfolio spans five product candidates — LDGraft (controlled-release rhBMP-2 for spinal fusion), CertOss (synthetic instructive tissue scaffold bone graft), OsteoMime (stealth rhBMP-2 product for revision spinal surgeries), CognitOss (antibiotic-releasing resorbable graft for osteomyelitis), and Chondro3 (three-layer biomimetic cartilage repair graft) — built on two proprietary platforms: Programmed Drug Release and Instructive Tissue Scaffolds. The lead technology, a polymer-encapsulation Dose Shielding system, is designed to deliver rhBMP-2 in a controlled, biomimetic profile over 4–6 weeks, with preclinical data showing fusion equivalence to iliac crest autograft in a sheep model at 6 months.
The company targets spine surgeons and orthopedic surgeons performing spinal fusion and related procedures in hospitals and surgical centers, addressing limitations of autograft (donor site morbidity), allograft (disease transmission risk), and existing rhBMP-2 products (supraphysiological dosing and inflammatory side effects). LDGraft received FDA Breakthrough Device designation in May 2023, and the RESTORE clinical study commenced US enrollment in November 2024. The company is a spin-out from the University of Nottingham (founded on the regenerative medicine research of Professor Kevin Shakesheff) and has raised over £27 million in cumulative funding from Mercia Ventures, BGF, MEIF, and Innovate UK.
Locate Bio currently generates no product revenue; its commercial model is built around future direct sales to healthcare institutions via clinical field sales representatives, with complementary out-licensing potential for its TAOS and IntraStem platforms. Revenue mechanics will activate post-regulatory approval, with the US market (over 700,000 spinal fusions annually) as the primary near-term opportunity, supported by a wholly-owned US subsidiary, Locate Bio Inc.
Locate Bio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Locate Bio
- Legal name
- Locate Bio Ltd
- Website
- https://locatebio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Locate Bio is a UK clinical-stage orthobiologics company developing polymer-encapsulated rhBMP-2 bone graft substitutes and instructive tissue scaffolds for spine and orthopedic surgeons, with LDGraft in US clinical trials for spinal fusion.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Locate Bio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Orthobiologics — Bone Graft Substitutes
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113), Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (3391), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bone Graft Substitutes & Orthobiologics (Synthetic/Allograft/DBM) (HLAHAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Tissue-Engineered Constructs & Scaffolds (natural/synthetic biomaterials) (HLAAAGAB), Cartilage, Bone & Musculoskeletal Regeneration (HLAAAGAH)
Keywords
Where Locate Bio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Beeston
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Locate Bio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Product Sales (Post-Approval): Revenue from sales of LDGraft, CertOss, and other orthobiologics products to hospitals and surgeons upon regulatory approval. Currently pre-revenue as products are in clinical development stage.
- Licensing and Partnerships: Potential out-licensing or partnering opportunities for proprietary technologies including TAOS platform and IntraStem gene therapy technology to pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Locate Bio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Locate Bio develops and manufactures orthobiologics products — bone graft substitutes and tissue scaffolds — for use by spine and orthopedic surgeons in spinal fusion, bone infection, and cartilage repair procedures. Its portfolio combines Programmed Drug Release technology (sustained, biomimetic rhBMP-2 delivery) with Instructive Tissue Scaffold technology (100% synthetic calcium phosphate scaffolds), producing products such as LDGraft, CertOss, OsteoMime, CognitOss, and Chondro3.
Product overview
Locate Bio is a diversified orthobiologics company developing multiple product families using two core technology platforms: Programmed Drug Release and Instructive Tissue Scaffolds. The portfolio includes LDGraft (controlled-release rhBMP-2 for spinal fusion), CertOss (100% synthetic bone graft scaffold), OsteoMime (second-generation rhBMP-2 product for revision surgeries), CognitOss (antibiotic-delivering bone graft for osteomyelitis), and Chondro3 (biomimetic cartilage repair graft). The products address unmet musculoskeletal needs in spinal fusion, bone infection treatment, and cartilage repair.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- LDGraft: rhBMP-2 bone graft substitute product for spinal fusion with FDA breakthrough device designation
- CertOss
- OsteoMime
- CognitOss
- Chondro3
Products and services
- LDGraft™ A next-generation bone graft substitute for spinal fusion featuring 100% pre-encapsulated recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) with controlled and extended release over 4-6 weeks. Uses Dose Shielding technology to shield rhBMP-2 during the early inflammatory phase and enables a biomimetic release profile aligned with the 7-14 day natural peak of BMP-2 expression in human bone healing. Investigational use only; holds FDA Breakthrough Device designation for ALIF.
- CertOss™ A 100% synthetic bone graft substitute using Instructive Tissue Scaffold technology. Developed through R&D evaluating geometries to deliver novel bone graft properties based on discoveries that new bone forms preferentially on concave surfaces of ceramic grafts and that submicron surface topography differences result in enhanced bone mineralization.
- OsteoMime™ A second rhBMP-2 product in development using Programmed Drug Release technology, currently in stealth mode, designed to address unmet needs in revision spinal surgeries.
- CognitOss Controlled and responsive release of antibiotics from a resorbable bone graft for the treatment of osteomyelitis (bone infections). Combines local delivery of therapeutically appropriate levels of antibiotics from a smart material responsive to the presence of infection while promoting bone regeneration. Received FDA Breakthrough Device designation.
- Chondro3
Quantifiable outcome
- All three rhBMP-2 doses tested were equivalent to iliac crest bone graft in terms of fusion at 6 months in sheep model
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Locate Bio
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Locate Bio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Locate Bio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and major.
- European Orthopaedics Company (unnamed)minorTAOS technology partnered with a major European orthopaedics company for osteomyelitis treatment application.
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)majorLocate Bio acquired multiple late-stage complementary orthobiologics assets from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, accelerating route to market and broadening orthobiologics pipeline with products including CertOss, CognitOss, and Chondro3.
- University of NottinghammajorLocate Bio is a spin-out from the University of Nottingham based on the research of Professor Kevin Shakesheff, a world-leading expert in regenerative medicine. The company was initially a contract research organization before pivoting to orthobiologics product development.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Locate Bio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SeaSpine: SeaSpine (now part of Globus Medical) is a spine-focused orthobiologics company offering bone graft substitutes and spinal fusion products. Its portfolio overlaps directly with Locate Bio's spinal fusion and bone graft ambitions, and Keith Valentine served as its CEO, illustrating the direct comparability.
- Bioventus: Bioventus is an orthobiologics-focused company offering bone graft substitutes and regenerative medicine products for spine and orthopedic applications. Its portfolio overlaps with Locate Bio's CertOss and CognitOss franchises, making it a comparable pure-play orthobiologics peer.
- Orthofix Medical: Orthofix is a spine and orthopedics company with a meaningful orthobiologics segment including bone graft substitutes. Its BGM (Biologics) product line directly competes with Locate Bio's CertOss and LDGraft in the spinal fusion call point.
- Xtant Medical: Xtant Medical is a clinical-stage and commercial orthobiologics company developing bone graft substitutes and regenerative products for spinal and orthopedic surgery. Its product portfolio and pipeline stage are highly comparable to Locate Bio's diversified orthobiologics approach.
- MTF Biologics: MTF Biologics is a leading tissue bank and orthobiologics provider offering allograft bone graft substitutes for spinal fusion and orthopedic applications. Its allograft-based offerings compete directly with Locate Bio's synthetic CertOss and LDGraft products.
Broad incumbents
- Baxter International: Baxter acquired ApaTech (where Locate Bio's CEO previously served) for $330M, validating the strategic value of differentiated orthobiologics assets. As a major medical device incumbent with a bone graft substitute franchise, Baxter represents both a competitor and a potential strategic acquirer profile.
- NuVasive: NuVasive (now part of Globus Medical) is a major spine surgery company with a substantial orthobiologics portfolio. Its spinal fusion franchise and biologics offerings compete in the same surgeon call point as Locate Bio, and Keith Valentine previously served as President and COO.
- Medtronic (INFUSE Bone Graft): Medtronic markets INFUSE, the established rhBMP-2 bone graft substitute that LDGraft is designed to displace or compete against in spinal fusion. As the dominant incumbent in rhBMP-2 delivery with decades of clinical data and entrenched surgeon relationships, it is the most direct competitive benchmark for Locate Bio's lead program.
Emerging players
- Prosidyan: Prosidyan (acquired by Globus Medical) developed synthetic bone graft substitutes with biologic activity for spine and orthopedic surgery. Its focus on synthetic, growth-factor-enhanced grafts is directly comparable to Locate Bio's CertOss and LDGraft strategy.
- Bone Biologics: Bone Biologics is a clinical-stage orthobiologics company developing bone graft substitutes for spinal fusion using rhBMP-2. It is a direct competitor to Locate Bio's LDGraft in the same indication, technology class, and clinical development stage.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Locate Bio social profiles
Digital presenceLocate Bio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Locate Bio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Locate Bio subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Locate Bio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Locate Bio 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 Locate Bio
What does Locate Bio do?
Locate Bio develops and manufactures orthobiologics products — bone graft substitutes and tissue scaffolds — for use by spine and orthopedic surgeons in spinal fusion, bone infection, and cartilage repair procedures. Its portfolio combines Programmed Drug Release technology (sustained, biomimetic rhBMP-2 delivery) with Instructive Tissue Scaffold technology (100% synthetic calcium phosphate scaffolds), producing products such as LDGraft, CertOss, OsteoMime, CognitOss, and Chondro3.
Is Locate Bio a public or private company?
Locate Bio is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Locate Bio founded?
Locate Bio was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Locate Bio based?
Locate Bio is headquartered in Beeston, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Locate Bio make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Product Sales (Post-Approval) is the primary driver. The others are licensing and Partnerships.
Who are Locate Bio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SeaSpine, Bioventus, Orthofix Medical, Xtant Medical and MTF Biologics. Broad incumbents are Baxter International, NuVasive and Medtronic (INFUSE Bone Graft). Emerging players are Prosidyan and Bone Biologics.
Does Locate Bio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Locate Bio.
What industry is Locate Bio in?
Locate Bio's product category is Orthobiologics — Bone Graft Substitutes. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAEAG, Bone Graft Substitutes & Orthobiologics (Synthetic/Allograft/DBM), with a secondary code of HLAAAGAB, Tissue-Engineered Constructs & Scaffolds (natural/synthetic biomaterials). Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 3842.