What Fina Biosolutions does

Fina Biosolutions LLC is a privately held biotechnology company founded in 2006 by Dr. Andrew Lees and headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. The company's mission is to enable affordable conjugate vaccine manufacturing for emerging markets by providing conjugation chemistry expertise, carrier proteins, laboratory services, and consulting. Its core technology is the CDAP (1-cyano-4-dimethylaminopyridine tetrafluoroborate) conjugation method and a proprietary E. coli expression system that produces CRM197 (marketed as EcoCRM) at high yields without Corynebacterium diphtheriae, reducing carrier protein costs by up to 80% versus legacy alternatives. The broader product portfolio includes tetanus toxoid variants (8MTT, rTTHc), Qβ virus-like particles, and a catalog of functionalized dextrans for research applications.

Fina Biosolutions operates four revenue streams. First, product sales of proprietary carrier proteins and bioconjugation reagents via a direct e-commerce storefront and purchase-order system, with unit prices ranging from $175 to $5,500. Second, contract laboratory services covering bioconjugation, protein expression and purification, SEC-MALS and moisture analytical services, and immunoassay design. Third, technology licensing and royalties, most notably the long-running agreement with the Serum Institute of India covering CDAP chemistry and EcoCRM, which underlies WHO-prequalified vaccines Pneumosil and MenFive, plus a non-exclusive PATH license for EcoCRM in GAVI-eligible countries. Fourth, multi-day CDAP conjugation training programs delivered by Andrew Lees and staff. The company employs 1-10 people, was bootstrapped for 18 years prior to a $3 million strategic investment by SK Bioscience in October 2024, and operates a deliberately low-margin 'not-for-much profit' model intended to expand global vaccine access rather than maximize unit economics.

Name

Fina Biosolutions

Legal name

Fina Biosolutions LLC

Website

https://finabio.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fina Biosolutions is a Rockville, Maryland biotech that licenses proprietary CDAP conjugation chemistry and E. coli-produced CRM197 (EcoCRM) carrier proteins to enable affordable conjugate vaccine manufacturing, serving emerging market vaccine producers, global health organizations, and research institutions worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conjugate Vaccine Technology

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Vaccine Technology Platforms (mRNA, viral vector, protein subunit, inactivated/live-attenuated, VLP, DNA) (HLAAAEAD)

Keywords

• Conjugate vaccine technology
• Bioconjugation services
• Vaccine carrier proteins
• Protein expression services
• Conjugation chemistry

Headquarters

HQ city

Rockville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (Carrier Proteins & Reagents): Sale of proprietary vaccine carrier proteins (EcoCRM, rTTHc, 8MTT), functionalized dextrans, specialty immunoreagents, and related bioconjugation reagents to vaccine manufacturers and research institutions. Products sold via online storefront and purchase orders.
2. Laboratory & Consulting Services: Provides bioconjugation laboratory services, protein expression and purification, analytical services (SEC-MALS, moisture analysis), and consulting to biotech and vaccine companies. Includes contract conjugation work for companies worldwide.
3. Technology Licensing & Royalties: Licenses CDAP conjugation chemistry and EcoCRM production technology to vaccine manufacturers. Receives milestone payments and royalties on vaccine sales incorporating FinaBio technology (e.g., Serum Institute of India's Pneumosil and MenFive).
4. CDAP Training Programs: Multi-day training programs on CDAP conjugation chemistry, delivered by Andrew Lees and FinaBio staff, covering theoretical and hands-on laboratory training, DOE-based optimization, and SEC MALS analysis.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fina Biosolutions develops and supplies proprietary CDAP conjugation chemistry and E. coli-expressed carrier proteins (EcoCRM/CRM197, 8MTT, rTTHc, Qβ VLP) along with functionalized dextrans and specialty immunoreagents for conjugate vaccine manufacturers, particularly emerging market producers. The company complements its product catalog with contract bioconjugation services, protein expression and purification, SEC-MALS and moisture analytical services, CDAP conjugation training programs, and technology licensing.

Product overview

Fina Biosolutions is a biotech company providing conjugate vaccine laboratory and consulting services along with a portfolio of bioconjugation products. The product portfolio centers on carrier proteins for conjugate vaccines (EcoCRM/CRM197, Tetanus Toxoid/8MTT, rTTHc, Qβ VLP) and functionalized dextrans for research applications. The company offers conjugation services using proprietary CDAP chemistry, protein expression and purification services, analytical services (SEC-MALS, moisture analysis), and CDAP conjugation training programs. All products and services are designed to support vaccine development with a focus on affordability for emerging markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EcoCRM: Economical CRM197 carrier protein produced in E. coli for conjugate vaccines

Products and services

• EcoCRM (CRM197) Carrier Protein Family E. coli-expressed CRM197 carrier protein and its functionalized variants (maleimide, azide, bromoacetate, click-chemistry) for conjugate vaccine manufacturing and bioconjugation, with anti-CRM antibodies for detection. CRM197 is a genetically detoxified diphtheria toxin used as a carrier protein in conjugate vaccines against pneumococcal, meningococcal, and Haemophilus influenzae b diseases. Available for preclinical research and clinical (cGMP) use.
• Tetanus Toxoid (8MTT) Carrier Protein Family Genetically detoxified tetanus toxin carrier protein and its functionalized variants (maleimide, azide, bromoacetate) for conjugate vaccine development. Used as an alternative carrier protein to CRM197 in conjugate vaccine formulations.
• rTTHc Carrier Protein Family Recombinant tetanus toxin heavy chain fragment C and its maleimide-functionalized variant, used as a genetically detoxified alternative to chemically-treated tetanus toxoid in conjugate vaccine research.
• Qβ VLP Q-beta virus-like particle for vaccine antigen display and delivery applications.
• Functionalized Dextrans Functionalized dextrans (>90% dextran by weight) including amino, carboxy, amino-ficoll, fluorescent, monofunctionalized, multi-functionalized, and high-ratio maleimide variants for bioconjugation, immunoassay, imaging, tracing, and flow cytometry applications.
• Antibody Dextran Conjugates Multivalent antibody-dextran conjugates including anti-IgD and anti-IgM constructs used as universal B cell activators in immunology research.
• Streptavidin and Streptavidin Conjugates Recombinant E. coli-produced streptavidin with high biotin-binding affinity, plus streptavidin-dextran conjugates and fluorescent (PE/APC) streptavidin-dextran conjugates for multivalent binding, flow cytometry, and T-cell analysis applications.
• Specialty Immunoreagents Collection of immunological reagents including TNP, NP, DNP, phosphorylcholine, phenylarsonate, and heparin conjugates for immunological research.
• Conjugation Services Contract conjugation services for conjugate vaccines, biotinylation, fluorescent labeling, antibody-enzyme conjugates, and peptide immunogens using proprietary CDAP chemistry. Provided to vaccine developers and biotech companies worldwide.
• CDAP Conjugation Training Program Multi-day hands-on training program on CDAP conjugation chemistry taught by founder Dr. Andrew Lees, covering theoretical instruction, laboratory training, Design of Experiment-based optimization, and SEC-MALS analysis. Delivered to scientists from vaccine manufacturers and research institutions.
• Protein Expression and Purification Services Recombinant protein production services from milligrams to multi-gram quantities using bacterial (E. coli) expression systems. Includes expression, purification, and analytical characterization.
• Analytical Services (SEC-MALS and Moisture Analysis) Analytical services including size-exclusion chromatography with multi-angle laser light scattering (SEC-MALS) for absolute molecular weight determination of proteins, conjugates, and polymers, plus chemical-free moisture analysis using Vapor Pro technology for polysaccharides and proteins.
• Immunoassay Design and Antibody Services Immunoassay development services and antibody products provided to FinaBio's customers through partner company AIC Biotech.

Quantifiable outcome

• CRM197 production cost reduced by up to 80% compared to prior commercial options
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Scorpius BioManufacturingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 27 July 2023Fina Biosolutions selected Scorpius BioManufacturing, a biologics CDMO, for production of E.coli-expressed CRM197 conjugate vaccine carrier protein. The partnership includes recovery and downstream process optimization, analytical method implementation, validation, scale-up, and cGMP bulk drug substance manufacturing.
• Bio-Works TechnologiesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 October 2022Bio-Works Technologies interviewed Andrew Lees for their Water Cooler Chats video series at BPI Boston 2022, promoting FinaBios' technology and expertise in the bioprocessing community.
• Chinese Institute of Medical Biology (Kunming)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2019Fina Biosolutions signed a development agreement for two conjugate vaccines with the Chinese Institute of Medical Biology (Kunming), part of the Chinese Academy of Medicine. FinaBio provides laboratory and consulting services, develops production protocols, trains scientists, and assists in manufacturing scale-up for bacterial meningitis vaccines.
• PATHflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2018PATH provides funding and technical support for clinical manufacture of EcoCRM (CRM197). FinaBio licensed PATH non-exclusive rights to EcoCRM for infectious disease vaccines sold to low-income countries. PATH supports bringing EcoCRM to GMP manufacture for use in GAVI countries.
• Serum Institute of IndiaflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2007Licensed CDAP conjugation chemistry under a 2007 technology agreement for pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (Pneumosil) and meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenFive). FinaBio receives milestone payments and royalties based on worldwide sales. Pneumosil achieved WHO prequalification; MenFive is also WHO prequalified.
• Chengdu Institute of Biological ProductsminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensed conjugation technology from Fina Biosolutions for conjugate vaccine development.
• Canadian Glycomics Network (GlycoNet)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndrew Lees presented on EcoCRM and carrier proteins to GlycoNet in April 2020. GlycoNet is a Canadian network of glycomics researchers funded by the Networks of Centres of Excellence program.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• WuXi Biologics: Global biologics CDMO with extensive microbial expression and conjugation capabilities serving vaccine and therapeutic developers. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the contract biologics manufacturing space that competes for the same customer base.
• MilliporeSigma (Merck KGaA Life Science): Sells CRM197 carrier protein and broad bioconjugation reagents to vaccine developers and researchers — historically the dominant supplier that FinaBio's EcoCRM undercuts by up to 80%. Comparable as an established incumbent in the same carrier protein and bioconjugation market.
• Lonza Group: One of the world's largest biologics CDMOs, offering microbial and mammalian protein expression, conjugation, and analytical services. Comparable as a broad incumbent providing biologics manufacturing services to vaccine developers globally.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Life sciences tools giant offering bioconjugation reagents, protein expression systems, and analytical services. Comparable as a broad incumbent serving vaccine developers and academic researchers with overlapping reagent and service categories.
• Bio-Rad Laboratories: Life sciences tools and reagents company serving vaccine development and immunology research. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the bioconjugation and protein characterization reagent space with similar downstream customer segments.
• Catalent (Novo Holdings): Global biologics CDMO providing protein expression, conjugation, and fill-finish services to vaccine and therapeutic developers. Comparable as a broad incumbent in biologics contract manufacturing with overlapping protein production capabilities.

Direct peers

• Scorpius BioManufacturing: US-based biologics CDMO that is FinaBio's selected partner for cGMP production of EcoCRM (CRM197). Directly comparable as a biologics manufacturing services provider, with overlapping capabilities in protein expression, purification, and analytical characterization.
• Serum Institute of India: World's largest vaccine manufacturer by volume and FinaBio's flagship licensing partner for Pneumosil and MenFive. Comparable as an emerging-market conjugate vaccine developer using FinaBio's CDAP chemistry and EcoCRM technology.
• Bharat Biotech: Indian vaccine manufacturer and licensor of 8MTT (genetically detoxified tetanus toxin) to FinaBio. Comparable as an emerging-market vaccine manufacturer focused on affordable conjugate vaccines and adjacent biologics.
• Biological E Limited: Indian vaccine manufacturer developing affordable conjugate vaccines for emerging markets. Comparable as a direct peer in the same customer segment (emerging-market vaccine manufacturers) and competes for similar global health tenders.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/finabiosolutions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fina-biosolutions-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Fina Biosolutions