ImmuCell
ImmuCell is a publicly traded animal health biologics company (NASDAQ: ICCC) that develops and sells the First Defense line of USDA-licensed, hyperimmunized bovine colostrum products for preventing scours (neonatal calf diarrhea) in dairy and beef calves across North America.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What ImmuCell does
ImmuCell Corporation is a publicly traded animal health biologics company (NASDAQ: ICCC) founded in 1982 and headquartered in Portland, Maine. The company develops, manufactures, and sells the First Defense line of scours prevention products for neonatal calves, based on proprietary hyperimmunized bovine colostrum technology. ImmuCell is the only animal health company that hyperimmunizes bovine colostrum on a commercial scale, using multiple closely timed vaccinations against specific antigens (E. coli, coronavirus, and rotavirus) to produce concentrated colostral antibodies. The product portfolio includes Tri-Shield First Defense (the only USDA-licensed single-dose gel tube with guaranteed passive immunity against all three pathogens), Dual-Force gel tube, First Defense Bolus, and First Defense Technology (90-dose bulk powder with added colostral fat and bioactive proteins). All products are USDA-licensed through the Veterinary Center for Biologics and OMRI-listed.
The company primarily serves dairy and beef cattle producers in North America, with secondary channels into veterinary clinics and calf/heifer raising operations. ImmuCell operates a hybrid go-to-market model: a regional direct field sales force (First Defense Calf Crew, organized across 7+ U.S. regions plus Canada/international) combined with distribution through major animal health wholesalers (Covetrus, MWI Animal Health, Animal Health International, Jeffers Pet, Valley Vet, and others) and e-commerce platforms. The company previously developed Re-Tain, a NADA-stage mastitis treatment, but paused further investment in December 2025 following an FDA Incomplete Letter and is now seeking a licensing or partnership partner for that asset.
ImmuCell generates revenue predominantly through one-time product sales (no recurring subscription model), with First Defense product line revenue of $19.9M in FY2025 (+26.5% YoY) and total product sales of $27.6M (+4.3% YoY). Q1 2026 marked a milestone with $10.36M in revenue (+28.4% YoY), the company's first-ever $10M quarter, accompanied by 45% gross margin expansion. Under new CEO Olivier te Boekhorst (appointed November 2025), the company is executing a 50% sales force expansion, refocusing capital on the First Defense franchise, and refreshing its board with animal health veterans from IDEXX, Elanco, and ARCHIMED. The company holds approximately 29% market share in U.S. calf scours prevention in a market where the disease costs the U.S. cattle industry up to $1 billion annually.
ImmuCell firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ImmuCell
- Legal name
- ImmuCell Corporation
- Website
- https://immucell.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- ImmuCell is a publicly traded animal health biologics company (NASDAQ: ICCC) that develops and sells the First Defense line of USDA-licensed, hyperimmunized bovine colostrum products for preventing scours (neonatal calf diarrhea) in dairy and beef calves across North America.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ImmuCell industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animal Health Biologics / Veterinary Biologics
- SIC
- Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Veterinary Vaccines (Biologics) (HLAMAEAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Livestock Vaccines (Cattle, Swine, Sheep & Goats) (HLAMAKAB), Vaccination, Parasite Control & Immunization Programs (AFACADAG), Herd Health, Preventive Medicine & Production Medicine (HLAMABAH)
Keywords
Where ImmuCell is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ImmuCell business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- First Defense Product Sales: ImmuCell generates revenue primarily through the sale of First Defense scours prevention products, including Tri-Shield, Dual-Force, and First Defense Technology. Q1 2026 showed $10.36 million in revenue (28.4% YoY increase). Full-year 2025 product sales were $27.6 million (4.3% growth). First Defense product line generated $19.9 million in full-year 2025 revenue (26.5% growth).
- Re-Tain Development (Paused): Previously in development - a new animal drug for cow mastitis. Development paused after FDA Incomplete Letter received in December 2025. Company plans to license or partner on Re-Tain depending on ongoing study outcomes. Non-cash impairment write-down of approximately $2.3-2.9 million recorded in Q4 2025.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
ImmuCell product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ImmuCell is an animal health biologics company that develops, manufactures, and sells USDA-licensed First Defense scours prevention products for newborn dairy and beef calves. The portfolio is built on proprietary hyperimmunized bovine colostrum technology, concentrating antigen-specific antibodies against E. coli, coronavirus, and rotavirus on a commercial scale. Products are sold to dairy and beef cattle producers, veterinarians, and calf ranches through a hybrid direct field sales force and national veterinary/livestock distribution network.
Product overview
ImmuCell is an animal health biologics company that develops and manufactures the First Defense line of scours prevention products for neonatal calves. The portfolio consists of four distinct product formulations: Tri-Shield First Defense (single-dose gel tube against E. coli, coronavirus, and rotavirus), Dual-Force Gel Tube (single-dose against E. coli and coronavirus), First Defense Bolus (against E. coli and coronavirus), and First Defense Technology (90-dose bulk powder with added colostral fat and bioactive proteins). All products are based on hyperimmunized bovine colostrum technology and are approved by the USDA Veterinary Center for Biologics. The company previously developed Re-Tain (mastitis treatment) but has paused investment following an FDA Incomplete Letter.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- First Defense: Primary product line of scours prevention products for neonatal calf health using hyperimmunized colostral antibodies
- Tri-Shield
- Dual-Force
- First Defense Technology
Products and services
- Tri-Shield First Defense Single-dose gel tube providing guaranteed passive immunity against K99+ E. coli, bovine coronavirus, and rotavirus infections in newborn calves. Approved by USDA Veterinary Center for Biologics. Reduces rotavirus shedding and provides the only USDA-licensed triple-pathogen claim against E. coli, coronavirus, and rotavirus in a single dose. Contains a blue dye marker for administration confirmation.
- First Defense Bolus Bolus formulation providing immediate guaranteed passive antibody dose against E. coli and coronavirus infections. Administered at birth with a balling gun for newborn calves that need immediate passive immunity.
- Dual-Force Gel Tube Single-dose gel tube providing passive immunity against E. coli and coronavirus infections in newborn calves. Contains non-digestible blue dye as an administration confirmation marker. Designed for easy single-dose application at birth.
- First Defense Technology (90-dose bulk powder) 90-dose bulk powder formulation containing hyperimmune colostrum with added colostral fat and bioactive proteins. Concentrated to deliver a rapid source of targeted globulin proteins to newborn calves, administered with first liquid feeding in calf ranches and heifer raising operations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Calf scours rate reduction of approximately 75%
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use ImmuCell
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
ImmuCell technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
ImmuCell partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Wipfli LLPminorIndependent auditor for 2026. Ratified by shareholders at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to provide audit services.
- Iowa State University Extension and OutreachminorEducational partnership bringing calf care educational materials including videos on automatic feeders, colostrum management, equipment cleaning, and stress minimization to ImmuCell's Calf Health Education platform.
- Dr. Chris Chase (South Dakota State University)minorPodcast host for 'On The Road with Dr. Chris Chase' series. Dr. Chase is a world-renowned immunology expert and professor in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at SDSU, focused on viral infection prevention in animals.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ImmuCell competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Zoetis: The largest global animal health company, with a livestock biologics portfolio that directly competes in scours prevention (e.g., Calf-Guard, scour vaccines). Overlaps ImmuCell in target customers (dairy/beef producers, veterinarians) and USDA-licensed biologics manufacturing, but Zoetis operates across companion animal, livestock, and diagnostics with far greater scale.
- Elanco Animal Health: Major animal health company with a livestock vaccine and therapeutic portfolio competing for the same scours/calf-health customer base. Comparable distribution through veterinary channels and large-animal veterinarians, with broader species coverage and significantly larger commercial footprint than ImmuCell.
- Merck Animal Health: Division of Merck offering livestock vaccines and biologics that compete for the U.S. dairy and beef producer wallet. Comparable USDA-licensed product lines targeting scours and neonatal calf disease, but distributed through a much larger global commercial network.
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health: Top-tier global animal health player with a livestock vaccines and anti-infectives portfolio (including scour-related products). Competes with ImmuCell in dairy and beef cattle health channels and operates at substantially greater R&D and manufacturing scale.
- Ceva Santé Animale: Global animal health company with a significant livestock vaccines and reproductive portfolio. Serves many of the same dairy and beef producer customers as ImmuCell and competes in adjacent preventive-medicine categories, though larger and broader in species coverage.
- Virbac: Global animal health company with a meaningful livestock and ruminant product portfolio, including biologicals and anti-infectives. Competes in the same dairy/beef preventive-medicine category as ImmuCell, particularly in international markets where ImmuCell is currently underpenetrated.
- Vetoquinol: Mid-sized global animal health company with livestock and companion-animal therapeutics. Comparable in being a focused, science-driven animal health specialist with ruminant offerings, though Vetoquinol is significantly larger and more geographically diversified than ImmuCell.
Direct peers
- Phibro Animal Health: Publicly traded animal health and nutrition company focused on livestock (cattle, poultry, swine) with vaccines, anti-infectives, and nutritional specialties. Most closely comparable in size and product mix to ImmuCell and directly serves the same dairy/beef producer channel.
- Colorado Serum Company: U.S. veterinary biologics manufacturer producing livestock vaccines and antiserums. Closely comparable to ImmuCell in scale, USDA-licensed biologics focus, and customer base (large-animal veterinarians and livestock producers), though with a broader infectious-disease portfolio beyond scours.
Emerging players
- Huvepharma: Animal health and nutrition company with livestock vaccines, anti-infectives, and feed additive products competing for the same dairy and beef producer customers. Comparable biologics-plus-nutrition orientation but with stronger EU distribution and a different product mix.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ImmuCell social profiles
Digital presenceImmuCell compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
ImmuCell financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ImmuCell leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
ImmuCell funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ImmuCell 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 ImmuCell
What does ImmuCell do?
ImmuCell is an animal health biologics company that develops, manufactures, and sells USDA-licensed First Defense scours prevention products for newborn dairy and beef calves. The portfolio is built on proprietary hyperimmunized bovine colostrum technology, concentrating antigen-specific antibodies against E. coli, coronavirus, and rotavirus on a commercial scale. Products are sold to dairy and beef cattle producers, veterinarians, and calf ranches through a hybrid direct field sales force and national veterinary/livestock distribution network.
Is ImmuCell a public or private company?
ImmuCell is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was ImmuCell founded?
ImmuCell was founded in 1982. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is ImmuCell based?
ImmuCell is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does ImmuCell make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. First Defense Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are re-Tain Development (Paused).
Who are ImmuCell's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Zoetis, Elanco Animal Health, Merck Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Ceva Santé Animale, Virbac and Vetoquinol. Direct peers are Phibro Animal Health and Colorado Serum Company. Huvepharma is listed as an emerging player.
Does ImmuCell have an API?
No public API is recorded for ImmuCell.
What industry is ImmuCell in?
ImmuCell's product category is Animal Health Biologics / Veterinary Biologics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAMAEAL, Veterinary Vaccines (Biologics), with a secondary code of HLAMAKAB, Livestock Vaccines (Cattle, Swine, Sheep & Goats). Its SIC code is 200.