What BioLife Solutions does

BioLife Solutions (NASDAQ: BLFS) is a Bothell, Washington-based cell processing tools supplier focused on the cell and gene therapy (CGT) market. Its portfolio centers on GMP-manufactured cryopreservation and hypothermic storage media—principally CryoStor (a serum-free, protein-free freeze media), HypoThermosol FRS (2–8°C shipping media), and BloodStor—supplemented by closed-system containment and fluid management hardware (CellSeal CryoCase, CellSeal Connect vials, Signata CT-5, RF tube sealing), cell-performance reagents (Stemulate-CP, nLiven PR, T-Liven PR human platelet lysates), thawing and intra-campus transport solutions, and the newer UltraGuard phase change material. CryoStor alone is embedded in over 700 customer clinical applications and 17 commercial CGT products.

The company's scientific foundation rests on proprietary, patented formulations developed by a deep bench of cryobiologists, and is reinforced by FDA Master Files covering its core product families—allowing customers to reference confidential BioLife data in IND and BLA submissions. The 2026 acquisition of PanTHERA CryoSolutions added Ice Recrystallization Inhibitor (IRI) chemistry, a next-generation cryoprotectant platform. BioLife holds over 70% market share in biopreservation media for commercially sponsored CGT clinical trials.

BioLife monetizes primarily through one-time consumable purchases of media, containers, and reagents sold via direct e-commerce (with a $200 order minimum), enterprise field sales to biopharma and CDMOs, and a global distributor network. The Qkine Limited distribution agreement (Feb 2026) added cytokine and growth factor products to the catalog. Pricing is volume-tiered at the unit level (e.g., HypoThermosol FRS 10 mL vial $70; 500 mL bottle $1,540). Following the 2024–2025 divestitures of Global Cooling, Custom Biogenic Systems, and the evo cold chain logistics subsidiary, BioLife now operates as a pure-play CGT cell processing company, with FY2025 revenue of $96.2 million (+29% YoY), Q1 2026 revenue of $27.5 million (+25% YoY), and FY2026 guidance of $112.5–$115 million.

Name

BioLife Solutions

Legal name

BioLife Solutions Inc.

Website

https://biolifesolutions.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

BioLife Solutions develops GMP biopreservation media, closed-system containers, and cell processing consumables for cell and gene therapy developers, CDMOs, and academic institutions. Its products are embedded in 700+ clinical applications and 17 commercial CGT products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopreservation Media and Cell Processing Supplies

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Cold Chain Storage & Cryopreservation Services (LN2/Ultra-low) (HLAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cold Chain, Cryopreservation & Biologics Storage/Handling Technologies (HLAAAJAN), Sample Preparation, Storage & Cryogenics (Freezers, Cryovials, Cryostats) (HLAGAIAJ)

Keywords

• Biopreservation media
• Cell therapy manufacturing
• Cryopreservation solutions
• Cell processing products
• Closed-system containers

Headquarters

HQ city

Bothell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Biopreservation Media Products: Sales of cryopreservation and hypothermic storage media including CryoStor, HypoThermosol FRS, and BloodStor. These are consumable products with recurring purchase patterns from biopharma companies and CDMOs. Revenue is generated through direct online sales and distributor relationships.
2. Cell Processing & Storage Products: Sales of closed-system containers (CellSeal CryoCase, CellSeal Connect vials), cryogenic storage vials, and fluid management systems. These products serve the CGT manufacturing market with single-use consumables.
3. Cell Performance Solutions: Human platelet lysate products (Stemulate-CP, nLiven PR, T-Liven PR) for cell culture optimization and expansion in CGT manufacturing.
4. Cytokine Distribution (Qkine Partnership): Distribution of cytokine and growth factor products for CGT manufacturing through multi-year supply agreement with Qkine Limited, expanding product portfolio into the rapidly growing cytokines market estimated at $500M annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

BioLife Solutions manufactures and sells GMP-compatible biopreservation media (including CryoStor, HypoThermosol FRS, and BloodStor), closed-system cryogenic containers and vials (CellSeal CryoCase, CellSeal Connect), cell performance products (Stemulate-CP, nLiven PR, T-Liven PR human platelet lysates), thawing solutions, and fill/finish fluid management systems (Signata CT-5) used by cell and gene therapy developers, CDMOs, and academic institutions. The company also provides regulatory support through FDA Master File letters of authorization for IND and BLA submissions.

Product overview

BioLife Solutions offers a unified portfolio of biopreservation and cell processing solutions for the cell and gene therapy (CGT) market. The core offering centers on GMP-compatible cryopreservation media including CryoStor Freeze Media, HypoThermosol FRS (hypothermic storage media), and BloodStor Freeze Media, which are embedded in 700+ customer clinical applications. The product line extends into closed-system handling and storage with CellSeal CryoCase (rigid cryogenic container), CellSeal Connect Vials, and Signata CT-5 fluid management system. Cell performance products include Stemulate-CP, nLiven PR, and T-Liven PR human platelet lysates. Thawing solutions cover both bag and vial formats. The company provides regulatory support through FDA Master File letters for IND and BLA submissions. A recent partnership with Qkine Limited extends the portfolio into cytokines and growth factors for CGT manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CryoStor: Cryopreservation freeze media product line embedded in over 700 customer clinical applications
• HypoThermosol FRS
• BloodStor
• CellSeal
• Stemulate-CP
• nLiven PR
• T-Liven PR
• UltraGuard
• Signata CT-5
• Aby J. Mathew Center for Biopreservation Excellence
• Preserving the Promise

Products and services

• CryoStor Freeze Media Pre-formulated, serum-free, protein-free cryopreservation media designed to maintain cell integrity and functionality during freezing and storage. Used by cell and gene therapy developers; embedded in over 700 clinical applications including commercial cell and gene therapies.
• HypoThermosol FRS Freeze Media Engineered hypothermic storage and shipping media for non-frozen storage stability at 2-8°C. Includes free radical scavengers, pH buffering, oncotic/osmotic support, and energy substrates to reduce post-preservation necrosis and apoptosis. Used by cell therapy developers for short-term storage and shipping.
• BloodStor Freeze Media Freeze media specifically formulated for blood and blood component preservation, including stem cells and cord blood.
• Cell Thawing Media Specialized thawing solutions designed to safely warm cryopreserved cells while maintaining viability and functionality. Used in cell therapy manufacturing workflows.
• CellSeal CryoCase Rigid cryogenic containment system engineered for closed-system, fill and retrieval of larger volumes of fluid (under 75 mL). Designed for CGT developers to address container failures common with flexible cryobags including stress fractures and seal fatigue during controlled rate freezing, liquid nitrogen storage, and distribution. Features fracture resistance and transparency for particulate inspection.
• CellSeal Connect Vials Closed-system cryogenic storage vials designed for automated and closed-system fluid transfer and storage workflows in cell therapy manufacturing.
• Signata CT-5 Fill and finish fluid management system designed to automate and close CGT manufacturing processes, improving throughput and reducing manual handling errors.
• Radio Frequency Tube Sealing System RF sealing system for secure closure of tubes in cell processing workflows, supporting closed-system operations in cell therapy manufacturing.
• Stemulate-CP Human Platelet Lysate Human platelet lysate product designed to support cell growth and performance in cell therapy applications.
• nLiven PR Human Platelet Lysate Premium human platelet lysate for cell culture applications in regenerative medicine and cell therapy manufacturing.
• T-Liven PR Human Platelet Lysate T-cell optimized human platelet lysate formulation designed to support specific cell type performance in immunotherapy applications.
• Bio-T Intra-Campus Transport Intra-campus transport solution for maintaining temperature control of biological samples during short-distance transfers.
• Cryogenic Bag Thawing Solutions Water-free thawing solutions designed for cryogenic bags to ensure controlled, standardized warming of frozen biological materials.
• Vial Thawing Solutions Specialized thawing solutions for cryopreserved vials ensuring consistent and reproducible post-thaw recovery.
• UltraGuard Non-toxic -70°C phase change material for biological material storage, launched March 2023, designed to maintain consistent temperatures in cold chain applications.
• Qkine Cytokine and Growth Factor Products Cytokine and growth factor products distributed globally for cell and gene therapy manufacturing under multi-year supply agreement with Qkine Limited. BioLife holds exclusive worldwide distribution rights for specific products and plans co-packaging with CellSeal Connect vials.
• FDA Master File Support Services FDA Master File letters of authorization allowing drug manufacturers to reference BioLife's confidential product information in regulatory submissions including INDs and BLAs. Master Files maintained for CryoStor, HypoThermosol FRS, Stemulate, nLiven PR, T-Liven PR, and CellSeal products.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25% year-over-year revenue growth in Q1 2026
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Charles River LaboratoriesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2026Alan Smith from Charles River Laboratories presented at BioLife's Cell Summit '25, discussing factors companies should weigh when deciding between building in-house manufacturing capacity or outsourcing to CDMOs for biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
• PanTHERA CryoSolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026BioLife acquired PanTHERA CryoSolutions to drive average revenue per user expansion and next-generation product launches. The acquisition brought Dr. Jason Acker (former President of Society for Cryobiology) and Dr. Robert Ben (IRI pioneer) to BioLife's team, enhancing cryobiology expertise and ice recrystallization inhibitor technology.
• Qkine LimitedcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 12 February 2026Multi-year supply agreement with U.K.-based Qkine Limited for distribution of cytokine and growth factor products for CGT manufacturing. BioLife gained exclusive worldwide distribution rights for specific products and non-exclusive rights in the broader CGT market. Companies also plan to collaborate on packaging Qkine products using BioLife's proprietary CellSeal Connect vial system. The global cytokines market is estimated at $500M annually and projected to grow at mid-teens CAGR to $1B by 2030.
• ScaleReadycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2026BioLife partnered with ScaleReady and the Emily Whitehead Foundation in support of the G-Rex Grant Tour, a year-long 12-city tour launching January 21, 2026. ScaleReady sponsors the Aby J. Mathew Center for Biopreservation Excellence with G-Rex consumables, materials, and technical expertise. The partnership enables technology transfer, scale-up support for CGT developers, and in-kind product support for G-Rex Grant awardees.
• Emily Whitehead FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2026Collaboration with the Emily Whitehead Foundation as part of the G-Rex Grant Tour initiative. The foundation supports the mission of bringing education, tools, and training to researchers across the country to accelerate cell and gene therapy development.
• Sexton BiotechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 August 2021BioLife acquired Sexton Biotechnologies in August 2021 for $24 million, expanding its cell and gene therapy tools portfolio. Sexton's bioproduction tools are used in over 50 ongoing clinical trials. Sexton contributed approximately $8 million in revenue in 2022. The acquisition was expected to be moderately accretive to 2022 net income.
• Stirling UltracoldcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 May 2021BioLife completed acquisition of Stirling Ultracold in May 2021, a manufacturer of ultra-low temperature freezers. The acquisition expanded BioLife's product portfolio and enabled cross-selling of bioproduction tools and services across the cell and gene therapy markets. Stirling supplies approximately 100 energy-efficient freezers under partnership with leading global biopharma CDMO for ULT storage solutions.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Largest life sciences tools company with a Gibco CTS product line that directly competes with BioLife's CryoStor and HypoThermosol media in the CGT biopreservation market. Offers broader bioproduction portfolio including instruments, consumables, and CDMO services.
• Cytiva (Danaher): Major bioprocessing tools provider offering cell culture media, cryopreservation solutions, and closed-system consumables for cell therapy manufacturing. Competes with BioLife across multiple product categories.
• Merck KGaA (MilliporeSigma / BioReliance): Life science tools division offering cryopreservation media, cell culture products, and CGT testing services. Operates BioReliance validation services, competing with BioLife in GMP biopreservation and cell processing.
• Bio-Techne: Offers GMP cytokines, cell culture reagents, and exosome products used in CGT manufacturing. Competes with BioLife's Qkine-distributed cytokine portfolio and broader cell performance solutions.

Direct peers

• Lonza Group: Leading cell and gene therapy CDMO that also develops and sells biopreservation media and cell processing tools to therapy developers. Direct overlap with BioLife's customer base of CGT developers and CDMOs.
• Miltenyi Biotec: Specializes in cell processing instruments, reagents, and clinical-grade cell therapy manufacturing solutions. Direct competitor in closed-system cell processing and cryopreservation workflows for CGT developers.
• STEMCELL Technologies: Specializes in cell culture media, cryopreservation products (e.g., CryoStor competitor), and cell isolation reagents for regenerative medicine and CGT. Direct competitor in biopreservation media for cell therapy developers.
• FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific: Provides cell culture media, cryopreservation solutions, and CGT manufacturing services. Direct overlap with BioLife's biopreservation media portfolio and serves the same CGT developer and CDMO customer base.

Others

• Corning Life Sciences:

Emerging players

• CellGenix: GMP-grade cytokines, cell culture media, and cryopreservation products specifically for cell and gene therapy manufacturing. Direct competitor to BioLife's media and the Qkine-distributed cytokine portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/biolifesol
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@biolifesolutionsinc3103
• Facebookfacebook.com/BioLifeSolutionsInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/biolife-solutions-inc-

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors

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

M&A4 records

Investments8 records

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

Frequently asked questions about BioLife Solutions