HydRegen
HydRegen is an Oxford University spinout developing bio-based hydrogenation catalysts that replace precious metal catalysts in pharmaceutical and fine chemical manufacturing, licensing its Bio2Amine and H2BioCat enzyme platforms to industrial customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersOxford, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What HydRegen does
HydRegen Limited is a UK industrial biotechnology company founded in March 2021 as a spinout from the Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, with headquarters in Oxford and additional incubation space at the Wilton Centre in Tees Valley. The company's core technology is a proprietary biocatalytic hydrogenation platform built on hydrogenase enzymes that use hydrogen gas (H2) as a clean energy source, enabling nitro-to-amine reductions and other hydrogenation reactions to replace precious metal catalysts (palladium, platinum, nickel) under mild conditions (1 bar H2, 25-60°C, ambient temperatures) without metal complexes, co-catalysts, or cofactors.
HydRegen operates two productised offerings: Bio2Amine, a heterogeneous biocatalyst for selective aromatic nitro-to-amine conversions that has demonstrated >30 reactions with full conversion and high isolated yield (including APIs such as paracetamol, mesalazine, sildenafil, linezolid, and intermediates like aniline and naphthylamine), with >4 million enzyme turnovers and operation for over a week in continuous flow; and H2BioCat, a hydrogenase-based platform providing 100% atom-efficient NADH or flavin cofactor recycling to support a wider class of cofactor-dependent enzymes. The technology is positioned as 'slot-in', designed to operate within existing chemical manufacturing infrastructure (batch or continuous flow) without capex retooling, and has been validated to deliver 40-50% cost savings and 3x CO2e reductions versus metal-catalyzed processes.
Commercially, the company monetises through a land-and-expand motion: evaluation sample sales (with >50% conversion to orders), joint development agreements (with Almac Sciences, AM Technology, JRSI, and a confidential large chemicals company), and ultimately technology licensing and royalty arrangements for commercial manufacturing. Its primary customers are pharmaceutical manufacturers (APIs and intermediates such as paracetamol) and fine and specialty chemical producers, with a secondary expansion vector into bulk commodities. The company has raised approximately £3.4M cumulatively across three disclosed rounds (Innovate UK/Oxford Seed Challenge Fund 2021, UKI2S 2022, Clean Growth Fund 2023), was awarded a 2024 Golden Ticket for planetary health innovation, and published its underpinning Bio2Amine science in Nature Communications in August 2024.
HydRegen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HydRegen
- Legal name
- HydRegen Limited
- Website
- https://hydregenoxford.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- HydRegen is an Oxford University spinout developing bio-based hydrogenation catalysts that replace precious metal catalysts in pharmaceutical and fine chemical manufacturing, licensing its Bio2Amine and H2BioCat enzyme platforms to industrial customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HydRegen industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Biotechnology
- NAICS
- Chemical Manufacturing (325), Basic Chemical Manufacturing (3251)
- SIC
- Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Chemical Synthesis Catalysts (Hydrogenation/Oxidation/Acid-Base) (IMAEAIAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Hydrogen & Derivative Fuels for Industry (H₂, Ammonia, Methanol) (EUABAJAC)
Keywords
Where HydRegen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oxford
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
HydRegen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Technology Licensing: HydRegen licenses its Bio2Amine and H2BioCat technologies to pharmaceutical and chemical companies for commercial manufacturing. Licensing agreements provide recurring revenue from royalties and milestone payments.
- Joint Development Projects: Collaborative development agreements with major chemicals and pharmaceutical companies to develop and optimize specific processes using HydRegen's technology. Customers include Almac Sciences and AM Technology partnerships.
- Evaluation Products: Sale of Bio2Amine evaluation samples allowing customers to assess the technology for their specific applications. Customer progression to orders exceeds 50% from evaluation samples.
- Option to License Agreements: Companies can option to license technology before full commercial licensing, providing revenue opportunities and customer lock-in.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Evaluation samples for technology assessment |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Joint development projects for process optimization |
| Licensing/ royalties | Multi-year contract | Technology licensing for commercial manufacturing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
HydRegen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HydRegen develops and commercializes proprietary biocatalytic hydrogenation technology that replaces toxic, finite precious metal catalysts in chemical manufacturing with bio-based enzyme alternatives. The company's two core offerings are Bio2Amine, a heterogeneous biocatalyst for selective aromatic nitro-to-amine conversions, and H2BioCat, a hydrogenase-based technology platform providing 100% atom-efficient cofactor recycling for hydrogen-driven biocatalysis.
Product overview
HydRegen offers a portfolio of industrial biotechnology platforms that deliver sustainable, safe and cost-efficient chemical processes. The company has two core products: Bio2Amine, a heterogeneous biocatalyst for selective nitro-to-amine conversions (targeting aromatic amines used in pharmaceuticals, specialty and bulk chemicals), and H2BioCat, a hydrogenase-based technology platform for NADH/flavin cofactor recycling that powers biocatalytic hydrogenation. These 'slot-in' technologies are designed as replacements to precious metal catalysts in existing chemical manufacturing infrastructure, enabling 3x CO2e savings and 40% cost savings for customers without requiring infrastructure changes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bio2Amine: A heterogeneous biocatalyst for aromatic nitro-to-amine conversions, applicable in batch or continuous flow, used for producing specialty/bulk chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients including paracetamol, mesalazine, aniline, and others.
- H2BioCat
Products and services
- Bio2Amine Bio2Amine is a heterogeneous biocatalyst that enables selective aromatic nitro-to-amine conversions. The technology shows excellent scope, selectivity and productivity for converting aromatic nitro compounds to amines, handling 16 documented reactions including specialty/bulk chemicals (4-Chloroaniline, 4-Fluoroaniline, Aniline, Naphthylamine, meta/ortho/para-phenylenediamine) and active pharmaceutical ingredients (Paracetamol, Mesalazine, Sildenafil, Erlotinib, Linezolid). Achieves >30 aromatic nitro-to-amine reactions with full conversion and high isolated yield, no dehalogenation, no C=X reductions, no deactivation by S-containing functional groups. The carbon-supported catalyst achieves full conversion over 5 reuse cycles, operates under 1 bar H2 gas with no requirement for metal complexes, co-catalysts or cofactors. Can be operated in batch or continuous flow for pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturers.
- H2BioCat H2BioCat is a hydrogenase-based technology platform that supports NADH- or flavin-dependent enzymes, providing a 100% atom efficient cofactor recycling system. It enables intensification of process conditions by switching the power source for biocatalysis from glucose to hydrogen gas. The platform operates with ease of production and handling for metallo-enzyme production, enabling clean and efficient hydrogen-powered biocatalytic hydrogenation for pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturers.
- Bio2Amine Evaluation Samples Bio2Amine Evaluation Samples are heterogeneous biocatalyst evaluation products that allow customers to rapidly assess the Bio2Amine technology for nitro-to-amine reductions in their own facilities. Designed to mimic metal/carbon catalyst handling for ease of implementation. Customer feedback is leveraged through data exchange discounts to enhance products. Over 50% of evaluation customers progress to orders.
- Joint Development Projects Joint Development Projects are collaborative development agreements where HydRegen works with pharmaceutical and chemical companies to develop and optimize specific processes using its Bio2Amine and H2BioCat technologies. Customers include Almac Sciences, AM Technology, and James Robinson Speciality Ingredients (JRSI). Deliverables include process optimization, scale-up demonstrations, and technology transfer. Custom development agreements tailored to customer requirements, with access to HydRegen expertise and know-how.
- Technology Licensing Technology Licensing agreements provide pharmaceutical and chemical companies with the rights to deploy HydRegen's Bio2Amine and H2BioCat technologies for commercial manufacturing. Licensing agreements provide recurring revenue from royalties and milestone payments. Option to license agreements are also available before full commercial licensing. The licensing model enables customers to integrate HydRegen's biocatalytic hydrogenation technology into their existing chemical manufacturing infrastructure for commercial-scale production.
Quantifiable outcome
- 40-50% cost savings compared to traditional metal-catalyzed processes
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use HydRegen
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
HydRegen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
HydRegen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, foundational, support and key.
- James Robinson Speciality Ingredients (JRSI)coreStrategic collaboration announced June 2025 to implement sustainable and efficient manufacturing processes through application of HydRegen's Bio2Amine biocatalyst technology.
- University of Oxford - Prof Kylie Vincent GroupfoundationalSource of foundational academic research. 10+ years of research from Department of Chemistry developed the hydrogenase technology. Collaborative research effort published in Nature Communications.
- Pioneer GroupsupportGolden Ticket programme winner providing 12 months of venture development support. Partnership with CPI for scale-up and innovation support including grant landscape review, technical consultancy, and test facilities access.
- CPI (Centre for Process Innovation)supportPart of High Value Manufacturing Catapult providing tailored grant landscape review, bid development, technical consultancy, innovation support, one-to-one technology advisory sessions, and use of test facilities at Wilton Centre.
- University of NottinghamkeyBBSRC, EPSRC and Innovate UK funded collaboration focused on intensification and scaling enzyme production for quinuclidinol manufacturing. Dr Simone Morra's team brings expertise in novel hydrogen cycling enzymes for metallo-enzyme production.
- AM TechnologykeyInnovate UK funded collaborative project (>£0.9m) for scaling Bio2Amine for manufacturing of paracetamol intermediate and another active pharmaceutical ingredient. Combines continuous hydrogenation infrastructure with Bio2Amine technology.
- Carbon Limiting TechnologiessupportSister company to Clean Growth Fund providing commercial strategy support. Analyzed aromatic amine market to identify key chemical products where HydRegen can offer competitive advantages.
- Horizon37supportLeadership development partner providing ScaleUp Institute endorsed Horizon Method programme. Helped transform leadership from technical perfectionism to commercial momentum and pace.
- Almac SciencescoreJoint development partnership with pharmaceutical and fine chemical company for large-scale manufacture using multi-enzyme system. Successfully completed tech transfer and achieved >99.9% conversion in kilo-lab hydrogenation facility demonstrating first scale-up of joint manufacturing route.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
HydRegen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Oxford Biotrans: University of Oxford spinout developing enzyme-based processes for chemical manufacturing, including oxidation and hydroxylation reactions. Direct peer in the UK biocatalysis-for-fine-chemicals space, sharing Oxford roots, target customers (pharma/chemical manufacturers), and an enzyme licensing/collaboration model.
- Codexis: Leading US-listed enzyme engineering company focused on biocatalysis for pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing. Directly comparable to HydRegen as both develop engineered enzymes/biocatalysts as drop-in or process-enabling catalysts for fine chemical and API production, with similar licensing and supply business models.
- Arzeda: US-based protein design company that uses computational enzyme design to develop novel biocatalysts for chemical manufacturing. Direct peer in the designer-enzyme-for-fine-chemicals space, sharing HydRegen's model of engineering enzymes to displace traditional chemical catalysts and license the resulting processes.
- AM Technology: UK-based specialist in continuous flow hydrogenation and reactor technology for pharmaceutical and fine chemical manufacturing. Listed as an active HydRegen partner on the Innovate UK-funded paracetamol scale-up project, and a direct peer/adjacent technology provider in continuous flow hydrogenation that competes for the same slots in customer process lines.
Emerging players
- Ingenza: Scotland-based industrial biotechnology and synthetic biology company providing contract biocatalysis and fermentation services to pharma, chemicals, and consumer products companies. Emerging player in UK biocatalysis with overlapping customers and a similar use of engineering biology for sustainable chemical manufacturing, though focused on service/contract rather than licensing.
Broad incumbents
- Johnson Matthey: Global specialty chemicals and sustainable technologies company with a major precious-metal catalysts business serving pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturers. Broad incumbent that HydRegen's biocatalytic hydrogenation directly competes with, especially in nitro-to-amine and other hydrogenation reactions where palladium and platinum catalysts are standard.
- Evonik Industries: Major German specialty chemicals company with a sizable biocatalysis and enzyme production operation (formerly Evonik Creavis) addressing pharma, cosmetics, and fine chemicals. Broad incumbent that combines established commercial reach with internal biocatalysis R&D, creating a credible competitor and potential partner/customer for HydRegen's hydrogenation technology.
- Novozymes (Novonesis): World-leading industrial enzyme company (recently merged with Chr. Hansen to form Novonesis) serving detergent, food, agriculture, and increasingly pharma/biocatalysis markets. Broad incumbent with deep enzyme engineering capability, established global sales channels, and capital scale that dwarf HydRegen, making it a potential competitor and partner in pharmaceutical biocatalysis.
- BASF: World's largest chemical company with broad catalyst, biocatalysis, and process chemistry capabilities serving pharma, agro, and specialty chemical customers. Broad incumbent whose scale, in-house biocatalysis programs (e.g., with universities), and pricing power could constrain HydRegen's commercial expansion into large accounts.
Others
- Almac Sciences: Pharmaceutical and fine chemicals CDMO that is both a HydRegen customer/partner (joint development, completed tech transfer of H2BioCat) and a service provider to many of HydRegen's target customers. Acts as an adjacent channel and ecosystem participant whose process development and scale-up infrastructure HydRegen leverages to reach pharma manufacturers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HydRegen social profiles
Digital presenceHydRegen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HydRegen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
HydRegen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HydRegen 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 HydRegen
What does HydRegen do?
HydRegen develops and commercializes proprietary biocatalytic hydrogenation technology that replaces toxic, finite precious metal catalysts in chemical manufacturing with bio-based enzyme alternatives. The company's two core offerings are Bio2Amine, a heterogeneous biocatalyst for selective aromatic nitro-to-amine conversions, and H2BioCat, a hydrogenase-based technology platform providing 100% atom-efficient cofactor recycling for hydrogen-driven biocatalysis.
Is HydRegen a public or private company?
HydRegen is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was HydRegen founded?
HydRegen was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is HydRegen based?
HydRegen is headquartered in Oxford, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does HydRegen make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Technology Licensing is the primary driver. The others are joint Development Projects, evaluation Products and option to License Agreements.
Who are HydRegen's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Oxford Biotrans, Codexis, Arzeda and AM Technology. Ingenza is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Johnson Matthey, Evonik Industries, Novozymes (Novonesis) and BASF. Almac Sciences is listed as an others.
Does HydRegen have an API?
No public API is recorded for HydRegen.
What industry is HydRegen in?
HydRegen's product category is Industrial Biotechnology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAIAD, Chemical Synthesis Catalysts (Hydrogenation/Oxidation/Acid-Base), with a secondary code of EUABAJAC, Hydrogen & Derivative Fuels for Industry (H₂, Ammonia, Methanol). Its NAICS code is 325 and its SIC code is 2860.