Algenex

Name

Algenex

Legal name

ALTERNATIVE GENE EXPRESSION S.L.

Website

https://algenex.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biotechnology - Recombinant Protein Production

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Vaccine Manufacturing & Contract Services (Veterinary Vaccine CDMO) (HLAMAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vaccine Technology Platforms (mRNA, viral vector, protein subunit, inactivated/live-attenuated, VLP, DNA) (HLAAAEAD), Vaccine Combination Products (Multivalent/Co-formulated) (HLAIAEAO), Vaccine Fill-Finish, Packaging & Cold-Chain Formulation (vial/syringe, lyophilization, thermostable) (HLAAAEAJ), Viral Vector Manufacturing Services (AAV, lentiviral, adenoviral) (HLAAAKAD)

Keywords

• Recombinant protein production
• Baculovirus expression systems
• Veterinary vaccine manufacturing
• Contract biologics manufacturing
• Diagnostic antigen production

Headquarters

HQ city

Pozuelo De Alarcón

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing: Algenex licenses its proprietary CrisBio and TopBac technology platforms to pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies for product development and manufacturing. Partners include Fatro (vaccines), Virbac (swine vaccines), Biokit/Werfen (diagnostic kits).
2. Contract Manufacturing Services: GMP-certified manufacturing services for active pharmaceutical substances using proprietary platforms. The company operates pharmaceutical-grade facilities in Madrid for production of biologics and vaccine antigens.
3. Diagnostic Antigens and Products: Production and sale of recombinant antigen proteins for diagnostic and therapeutic markets including the Herdscreen ASFV antibody test developed with GlobalDX.
4. Biocomponents: Supply of growth factors, enzymes, cytokines and other proteins for food technology applications including cultivated meat production, where growth media represents up to 95% of production costs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Algenex develops and licenses proprietary baculovirus-based technology platforms (CrisBio® and TopBac®) for recombinant protein production using Trichoplusia ni insect chrysalis as natural bioreactors. The company provides contract manufacturing services for vaccine antigens, therapeutic proteins, and diagnostic antigens, and licenses its technology to pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies. Its products include the Herdscreen® ASFV rapid diagnostic test and recombinant antigens for vaccines and diagnostics.

Product overview

Algenex is a VC-backed Spanish biotech company that has developed two proprietary technology platforms for recombinant biologics production: TopBac® and CrisBio®. TopBac® is a patented baculovirus expression cassette that enhances recombinant protein yield and quality. CrisBio® is a disruptive manufacturing platform that uses Trichoplusia ni chrysalis as natural single-use bioreactors, achieving gram-per-litre productivity at low capital cost with linear scalability. The company applies these platforms across three strategic areas: Animal Health (veterinary vaccine development and manufacturing), Human Health (biotherapeutics and vaccine antigen production), and Diagnostics (antigens for serological tests). Algenex holds GMP certification from AEMPS for active pharmaceutical substance manufacturing and the CrisBio platform has received EMA validation. The company commercializes its own products (Herdscreen ASFV rapid diagnostic) and licenses its technology platforms to partners including FATRO, Virbac, and Biokit (Werfen). The 2022 acquisition by Insud Pharma Group integrated Algenex into a broader pharmaceutical group with global commercial reach across 50+ countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CrisBio: Proprietary baculovirus expression vector technology platform using chrysalis of Trichoplusia ni as living bioreactors for recombinant protein production. Offers gram-per-litre yields with linear scalability and reduced production costs.
• TopBac
• Herdscreen ASFV

Products and services

• CrisBio® Platform Baculovirus expression platform leveraging Trichoplusia ni chrysalis as living natural bioreactors for recombinant protein production. Automated process achieving gram-per-litre yields with extremely low capital investment and immediately scalable, flexible manufacturing. Licensed to pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies globally.
• TopBac® Expression Cassette Patented baculovirus expression cassette comprising multiple regulatory genetic elements working in cascade. When incorporated into a baculovirus genome, TopBac significantly enhances productivity and protein quality of recombinant proteins, and is fully compatible with common baculovirus-based production technologies.
• Herdscreen® ASFV Antibody Rapid Test Point-of-care rapid diagnostic test that identifies animals exposed to African Swine Fever Virus using whole blood, plasma, or serum samples, with 100% specificity and higher sensitivity than commercial ELISA tests. Antigen produced using the CrisBio platform. Developed jointly with GlobalDX.
• Recombinant Protein Production Services (CMO) GMP-certified production of active pharmaceutical substances for human and veterinary use, leveraging baculovirus-based expression platforms (CrisBio and TopBac) in insect cells. Services span vaccine antigen production, therapeutic proteins, growth factors, enzymes, cytokines, and diagnostic antigens.
• Biocomponents Production Services Production and supply of mammalian-free recombinant proteins and peptides at reduced cost, including growth factors, enzymes, and cytokines for industrial, therapeutic, and food technology applications including cultivated meat production.

Quantifiable outcome

• Productivity yields exceeding 1 gram per liter, significantly higher than alternative baculovirus approaches
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• CEPIflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Up to $3.14 million funding for pre-clinical proof of concept study for influenza vaccine using CrisBio platform. Partnership supports 100 Days Mission to reduce vaccine development timelines. Includes commitment to equitable access and open-access publication of results.
• Fatro S.p.A.flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2021Italian veterinary pharmaceutical company. Commercial licensing agreement for FATROVAX RHD recombinant vaccine against Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease produced using CrisBio technology. Marketing authorization received from European Commission and UK VMD in September 2021. Also developing second CrisBio-based vaccine.
• VirbaccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2021International commercial licensing agreement for CrisBio-based vaccine in major swine indication. Vaccine to be jointly developed and manufactured using CrisBio technology.
• GlobalDXcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Joint development and commercialization agreement for diagnostic products detecting African Swine Fever. Developed Herdscreen ASFV antibody test using antigen produced via CrisBio. Test commercialized since 2021 with 100% specificity.
• Biokit (Werfen Group)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2017Licensed CrisBio technology to Biokit (part of Werfen Group) for commercializing recombinant proteins for in vitro diagnostic human use. Two diagnostic kits commercialized based on Algenex technology.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Cobra Biologics (Charles River Laboratories): Specialist biologics CDMO (now part of Charles River) offering viral vector and recombinant protein services. Overlaps Algenex on biologics manufacturing services and vaccine antigens, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
• AGC Biologics: Global CDMO providing mammalian and microbial biologics manufacturing services, including vaccines and recombinant proteins. Competes for outsourced biologics production demand at much larger scale than Algenex.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific (Patheon/Bioservices): Global pharmaceutical services giant offering biologics CDMO services including cell-culture and viral vector production. Incumbent competitor with broader portfolio and substantially greater commercial reach.
• Boehringer Ingelheim BioXcellence: Large-scale biologics CDMO arm of Boehringer Ingelheim offering mammalian and microbial production. Competes broadly for vaccine/biologics contract manufacturing with deeper resources and longer track record.

Direct peers

• Biovian: Nordic GMP CDMO offering microbial and mammalian biologics manufacturing, including viral vector and vaccine production services. Comparable contract manufacturing and platform-based service offering.
• Kaneka Eurogentec: Belgian biologics manufacturer offering GMP plasmid DNA, recombinant proteins and vaccine antigen services. Comparable CDMO model focused on biologics and vaccine antigens.
• ProBioGen: German biologics CDMO specializing in insect cell/baculovirus-based protein production and viral vector manufacturing. Most directly comparable competitor in the same technology niche (insect-cell BVES) serving similar vaccine and gene therapy customers.
• Oxford Expression Technologies: UK-based specialist in baculovirus expression vector systems (flashBAC, BacPAK), licensing platform IP and offering related reagents/services. Competes head-to-head with CrisBio/TopBac for the same baculovirus-based recombinant protein customers.
• ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies: Denmark-based protein expression platform company offering proprietary Drosophila S2 cell-based recombinant protein production, including for vaccine antigens. Comparable platform-licensing + CDMO business model targeting vaccine developers.

Others

• Fatro S.p.A. Italian veterinary pharmaceutical company that is Algenex's flagship licensing partner for CrisBio-produced vaccines (FATROVAX RHD). Customer and co-developer rather than direct competitor, but a relevant comparable given shared veterinary vaccine exposure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/algenex-s.l

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

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

M&A1 record

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Algenex