Hera BioLabs
Hera BioLabs was a Lexington, Kentucky preclinical CRO that developed gene editing technologies (Super piggyBac, Cas-CLOVER, CleanCut CHO) and the SRG Rat immunodeficient model for pharma, biotech, and academic researchers. Acquired by Demeetra AgBio in June 2025.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersLexington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Hera BioLabs does
Hera BioLabs was a preclinical contract research organization headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, that developed proprietary gene editing technologies and an immunodeficient animal model for drug discovery and bioprocessing applications. Founded in 2015 from gene editing technology originating at Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, the company built its portfolio around three differentiated technology platforms: the SRG Rat—a Sprague-Dawley strain with double knockout of the Rag2 and Il2rg genes producing loss of mature B, T, and NK cells, enabling high tumor take rates (>90%) for xenograft cell lines that are prohibitively inefficient in mice; the Super piggyBac hyperactive transposase system for stable genomic integration in research and cell therapy-relevant cell types including iPSCs and T cells; and the Cas-CLOVER precision gene editing system, which uses paired gRNAs and a dimeric Clo051 nuclease architecture to deliver cleaner knockouts and larger knock-ins (20+ kb vs. CRISPR/Cas9's 7-10 kb limit) with reduced off-target effects (<1% vs. up to 10%). Hera also launched the CleanCut GS CHO platform in 2024 for therapeutic protein cell line development, expanding into the biologics manufacturing value chain.
The company's revenue model combined technology licensing (Super piggyBac, Cas-CLOVER, Harbor-IN), sale of evaluation kits and reagents at $2,500-$5,000 per kit, annual research access subscriptions of $30,000 for CleanCut CHO cells, and exclusive global distribution of the SRG Rat through Charles River Laboratories. Hera served four primary customer segments—pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic and research institutions, contract research organizations, and biologics/cell therapy developers—addressing the translatability gap between preclinical mouse models and clinical outcomes.
In June 2025, Hera was acquired by Demeetra AgBio, its sister company under common ownership, consolidating commercial access to the Super piggyBac platform and CleanCut CHO cell line development under a single organization. As part of post-acquisition integration, Hera's in vitro services were absorbed into Demeetra's R&D operations while the in vivo services group was wound down, with Demeetra now positioned as the definitive commercial licensing source for the consolidated gene editing IP portfolio.
Hera BioLabs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hera BioLabs
- Legal name
- Hera BioLabs
- Website
- https://herabiolabs.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Hera BioLabs was a Lexington, Kentucky preclinical CRO that developed gene editing technologies (Super piggyBac, Cas-CLOVER, CleanCut CHO) and the SRG Rat immunodeficient model for pharma, biotech, and academic researchers. Acquired by Demeetra AgBio in June 2025.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hera BioLabs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Preclinical Research Services
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Synthetic Biology & Genetic Circuit Design Platforms (pathway engineering, chassis development) (HLAAAIAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Automation, Controls & Manufacturing Execution for Bioprocessing (SCADA/DCS/PLC/MES) (HLAAAJAE), Cell Therapy Developers (Allogeneic/Off-the-shelf) (HLAAABAB)
Keywords
Where Hera BioLabs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lexington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hera BioLabs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Technology Licensing: Licensing of proprietary gene editing technologies (Super piggyBac, Cas-CLOVER) to pharmaceutical and biotech companies for research, development, and commercial applications in drug discovery and cell line development.
- SRG Rat Model Distribution: Sale and distribution of the SRG Rat immunodeficient model through exclusive partnership with Charles River Laboratories. Hera retains technology rights while CRL handles breeding and global distribution.
- Gene Editing Reagents and Evaluation Kits: Sale of research evaluation kits and reagents including Cas-CLOVER mRNA, Super piggyBac mRNA, transposons, and Harbor-IN products for internal benchmarking and licensing evaluation prior to commercial licensing agreements.
- In Vitro Services (now integrated into Demeetra): Contract research services using proprietary technologies for cell line development and in vitro studies. These capabilities were incorporated into Demeetra's R&D operations following the acquisition, accelerating CleanCut CHO Platform development.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Cas-CLOVER Evaluation Kit for internal benchmarking |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Super piggyBac Evaluation and Reagents |
| Subscription | Annual | CleanCut GS CHO Research Access |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Harbor-IN Transposase Starter Kit and Reagents |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Hera BioLabs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hera BioLabs is a preclinical contract research organization that develops and licenses proprietary gene editing technologies (Super piggyBac transposase, Cas-CLOVER) and distributes a proprietary severely immunodeficient rat model (SRG Rat) for xenograft, PDX, and oncology research. Following its June 2025 acquisition by Demeetra AgBio, the company's in vitro services and CleanCut CHO cell line development platform were integrated into Demeetra's R&D operations.
Product overview
Hera BioLabs was a preclinical contract research organization specializing in gene editing technologies and immunodeficient animal models. Following its acquisition by Demeetra AgBio in June 2025, its technology portfolio was consolidated under Demeetra. The company's offerings included the SRG Rat platform (a severely immunodeficient Sprague-Dawley rat for xenograft and PDX studies), Super piggyBac transposase technology for stable genomic integration, and Cas-CLOVER precision gene editing. Hera also offered in vitro cell line development services leveraging the CleanCut CHO platform. The integrated portfolio supports drug discovery research, cell therapy development, and bioprocessing applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SRG Rat: Proprietary highly immunodeficient rat strain (Sprague Dawley-Rag2em2heraIl2rgem1hera/HblCrl) for xenograft and PDX studies. A SCID model with knockout mutations in Rag2 and Il2rgamma genes resulting in loss of mature B, T, and NK cells.
Products and services
- SRG Rat (Sprague Dawley-Rag2em2heraIl2rgem1hera/HblCrl) A highly immunodeficient rat strain created through double knockout mutations in the Rag2 and Il2rgamma genes, resulting in loss of mature B, T, and NK cells. Ideal for xenograft studies, PDX models, and engraftment of human tissue with high tumor take rates. Distributed globally through Charles River Laboratories.
- Super piggyBac Transposase A protein-engineered piggyBac transposase variant designed for enhanced activity and high copy-number insertions in research and cell therapy relevant cell types, including iPSCs and T cells. Now licensed exclusively by Demeetra AgBio for research, development, and substantially all commercial use.
- Cas-CLOVER A precision gene-editing system using two paired gRNAs and a dimeric architecture (Clo051 nuclease) to improve precision and reduce off-target activity relative to CRISPR/Cas9. Provides cleaner knockouts (8-50+ bp deletions) and more efficient knock-ins (20+ kb capacity) with favorable freedom-to-operate positioning for commercial cell line development.
- CleanCut GS CHO Platform Engineered CHO-K1 host systems including CleanCut GS CHO and CleanCut GS ADCC+ for stable, high-titer cell line development. Designed for robust expression, genetic stability, and manufacturability from day one, with seamless transition to GMP manufacturing.
- Harbor-IN Transposase A license-free, highly active mRNA transposase system specifically designed for stable cell line development in CHO and HEK293 cells, enabling insertion into transcriptionally active genomic regions.
- In Vitro Services (Cell Line Development) Preclinical contract research services for cell line development. These services were incorporated into Demeetra's R&D operations following the 2025 acquisition to accelerate development of the CleanCut CHO Platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- High tumor take rates (>90%) for prostate cancer xenograft cell lines (VCaP, LNCaP) in SRG rats that are prohibitively inefficient in mouse models
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Hera BioLabs
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Hera BioLabs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Hera BioLabs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.
- Eisai Co., Ltd.minorEisai renewed its research license agreement for piggyBac transposase technology, allowing continued use of the genetic engineering platform for internal research activities. The renewal reflects the ongoing collaborative relationship between Demeetra (now holding rights through Hera acquisition) and Eisai. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed. piggyBac technology was acquired by Demeetra from Hera BioLabs in 2025.
- Demeetra AgBioflagshipDemeetra AgBio completed acquisition of Hera BioLabs on June 1, 2025, securing expanded rights to the hyperactive Super piggyBac transposase platform. The transaction consolidated commercial access under one organization, removing prior uncertainty around licensing pathways and freedom-to-operate issues. Hera's in vitro services were incorporated into Demeetra's R&D to accelerate CleanCut CHO Platform development, while Hera's in vivo services group was wound down. Hera and Demeetra were sister companies under common ownership prior to the merger.
- NorthX BiologicscoreStrategic collaboration combining Demeetra's CleanCut GS CHO cell line with NorthX Biologics' GMP manufacturing capabilities. NorthX provides process development, analytics, biomanufacturing, and aseptic fill-finish services from facilities in Sweden, supporting clinical and commercial-stage biologics manufacturing. This partnership enables Demeetra to offer integrated cell line development to GMP manufacturing services, eliminating rebuilds and vendor handoff delays.
- Charles River LaboratoriescoreExclusive global distribution partnership for SRG rat model. Charles River Laboratories (CRL) serves as the exclusive global distributor for SRG rats, handling all breeding, order processing, and fulfillment. CRL also offers preclinical services using the SRG platform, including oncology studies. As of April 15, 2022, all orders are placed with and fulfilled by Charles River. The partnership enables global access to the SRG rat model through CRL's established distribution network.
- Taiho PharmaceuticalminorTaiho Pharmaceutical renewed its research license for piggyBac transposase technology. The license allows Taiho to continue leveraging the technology for internal research activities. This renewal demonstrates ongoing adoption of piggyBac technology by pharmaceutical companies for genetic engineering applications.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Hera BioLabs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Taconic Biosciences: Provider of genetically engineered rodent models including immunodeficient strains for oncology and immunology research; directly comparable to SRG Rat's positioning in the preclinical animal model market.
- Charles River Laboratories: World's largest preclinical CRO and Hera's exclusive global distribution partner for the SRG Rat; operates adjacent and competing preclinical services and humanized mouse model franchises, making it both a channel and a partial substitute for Hera's offerings.
- The Jackson Laboratory: Provider of the NSG family of immunodeficient mice — the most established alternatives to Hera's SRG Rat for xenograft and PDX research — with decades of academic validation that Hera's rat model must displace.
- Crown Bioscience: Preclinical CRO specializing in oncology PDX models and in vivo services; overlaps with the SRG Rat use cases (xenograft, efficacy, translational oncology) and competes for similar pharma and biotech sponsors.
- Selexis (a Sanofi company): Specialist in mammalian (CHO-based) cell line development for therapeutic protein production; directly comparable to Hera's CleanCut GS CHO Platform in the bioprocessing cell line engineering space.
Broad incumbents
- Horizon Discovery (now Revvity): Large gene editing tools and engineered cell line provider (CRISPR, rAAV, cell line engineering) that competes with Cas-CLOVER and CleanCut CHO for commercial cell line development and bioprocessing workflows.
- WuXi AppTec: Global CRO/CDMO with preclinical, cell line development, and biomanufacturing services; competes with Demeetra/Hera's integrated cell-line-to-GMP value proposition at much greater scale.
Emerging players
- Synthego: Gene editing tools and cell line engineering services company focused on CRISPR-based platforms; overlaps with Cas-CLOVER for cell line engineering customers seeking alternatives to incumbent CRISPR IP.
- ATUM: Provider of gene synthesis, protein engineering, and CHO cell line development tools and services; adjacent competitor in the synthetic biology and bioprocessing cell line engineering category.
- Mirus Bio (a Gamma Biosciences company): Transfection and gene delivery reagents company serving cell biology, bioprocessing, and gene therapy research; an adjacent competitor to Super piggyBac transposase for stable cell line engineering applications.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hera BioLabs social profiles
Digital presenceHera BioLabs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hera BioLabs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Hera BioLabs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hera BioLabs 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 Hera BioLabs
What does Hera BioLabs do?
Hera BioLabs is a preclinical contract research organization that develops and licenses proprietary gene editing technologies (Super piggyBac transposase, Cas-CLOVER) and distributes a proprietary severely immunodeficient rat model (SRG Rat) for xenograft, PDX, and oncology research. Following its June 2025 acquisition by Demeetra AgBio, the company's in vitro services and CleanCut CHO cell line development platform were integrated into Demeetra's R&D operations.
Is Hera BioLabs a public or private company?
Hera BioLabs is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Hera BioLabs founded?
Hera BioLabs was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Hera BioLabs based?
Hera BioLabs is headquartered in Lexington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hera BioLabs make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Technology Licensing is the primary driver. The others are SRG Rat Model Distribution, gene Editing Reagents and Evaluation Kits and in Vitro Services (now integrated into Demeetra).
Who are Hera BioLabs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Taconic Biosciences, Charles River Laboratories, The Jackson Laboratory, Crown Bioscience and Selexis (a Sanofi company). Broad incumbents are Horizon Discovery (now Revvity) and WuXi AppTec. Emerging players are Synthego, ATUM and Mirus Bio (a Gamma Biosciences company).
Does Hera BioLabs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hera BioLabs.
What industry is Hera BioLabs in?
Hera BioLabs's product category is Preclinical Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAIAD, Synthetic Biology & Genetic Circuit Design Platforms (pathway engineering, chassis development), with a secondary code of HLAAAJAE, Automation, Controls & Manufacturing Execution for Bioprocessing (SCADA/DCS/PLC/MES). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.