Axcella
Axcella Therapeutics is a clinical-stage Cambridge, MA biotechnology company developing endogenous metabolic modulator (EMM) therapeutics for Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy, NASH, and Long COVID, with no commercial product or revenue and no current disclosed operating activity following its 2022 delisting.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersCambridge, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Axcella does
Axcella Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2010 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that develops endogenous metabolic modulators (EMMs) — multi-targeted compositions derived from natural metabolites — to treat serious metabolic and hepatic diseases. The company's pipeline has historically focused on Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy (OHE), with later clinical programs extending into Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) and Long COVID, positioning it alongside established therapies such as lactulose and Bausch Health/Salix's Xifaxan (rifaximin) and against other emerging competitors including Mallinckrodt Therapeutics and Umecrine Cognition. The EMM platform is the central technological asset, with a dedicated Chief Intellectual Property Officer (Paul Fehlner) overseeing patent estate development, and clinical execution has been led by senior staff including Chief Development Officer Shreeram Aradhye and Chief Scientific Officer Tony Tramontin.
The company operated with 51–100 employees and was previously publicly listed on NASDAQ under ticker AXLA before being delisted. Across its history, Axcella raised approximately $185 million across six disclosed funding rounds between 2013 and 2022, anchored by Flagship Pioneering (lead investor from inception through 2018), Fidelity, and Nestlé Health Science, the last of which signaled early strategic intent to bridge the metabolic/nutrition–pharma interface. Its most recent capital event was a $34.2 million registered direct offering in October 2022, executed alongside the appointment of new board members Robert Rosiello and Torben Straight Nissen. No product revenue, pricing model, or commercial sales channel is disclosed, consistent with a pre-commercial biotech business model dependent on equity capital to fund clinical development rather than product sales. The company's own website (axcellatx.com) currently appears to host unrelated third-party content, indicating operational inactivity.
Axcella firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Axcella
- Legal name
- Axcella Therapeutics
- Website
- https://axcellatx.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Axcella Therapeutics is a clinical-stage Cambridge, MA biotechnology company developing endogenous metabolic modulator (EMM) therapeutics for Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy, NASH, and Long COVID, with no commercial product or revenue and no current disclosed operating activity following its 2022 delisting.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Axcella industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biopharmaceuticals
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Gastroenterology & Hepatology Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Gastroenterology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAE)
Keywords
Where Axcella is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cambridge
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Axcella business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Axcella product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Axcella Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing drug candidates based on endogenous metabolic modulators (EMMs) for chronic liver and metabolic diseases. Its lead clinical programs target Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy (OHE), Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), and Long COVID sequelae. The company was founded in 2010 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Product overview
Axcella Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel therapies for chronic liver diseases. The company has been developing clinical programs for Long COVID and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH). In October 2022, the company announced a registered direct offering raising $34.2 million to support its clinical programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy (OHE) pipeline candidate Clinical-stage drug candidate based on Axcella's endogenous metabolic modulator (EMM) platform for the treatment of Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy, intended for patients with cirrhosis-related hepatic encephalopathy and developed for hepatology and gastroenterology specialty use.
- Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) clinical program Clinical-stage drug development program for Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), based on Axcella's endogenous metabolic modulator (EMM) platform, targeting an underserved chronic liver disease indication with no broadly approved disease-modifying therapies.
- Long COVID clinical program Clinical-stage drug development program addressing Long COVID sequelae, built on Axcella's endogenous metabolic modulator (EMM) platform, intended for patients with persistent post-viral symptoms and supported by the company's 2022 capital raise.
- Endogenous Metabolic Modulator (EMM) drug-discovery platform Proprietary discovery and development platform built on compositions of endogenous human metabolites, used to generate multiple disease-specific drug candidates for Axcella's pipeline in chronic liver and metabolic disease.
Companies that use Axcella
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles2 records
Axcella technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Axcella partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Bausch Health / Salix PharmaceuticalsminorAxcella Health competes with Bausch Health and its subsidiary Salix Pharmaceuticals in the Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy market. Salix announced new clinical data for Xifaxan (rifaximin) in May 2025 demonstrating reduced risk of OHE-related rehospitalization. This is competitive landscape positioning rather than a formal partnership.
- Umecrine CognitionminorAxcella Health is identified alongside Umecrine Cognition as emerging pipeline candidates in the Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy competitive landscape across the seven major markets.
- Mallinckrodt TherapeuticsminorAxcella Health competes with Mallinckrodt Therapeutics in the Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy market alongside established therapies like lactulose and Xifaxan.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Axcella competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals: Specialty biopharmaceutical company historically focused on liver diseases including NASH and primary biliary cholangitis. Directly comparable to Axcella as a small-cap liver-disease biotech pursuing novel mechanisms in overlapping indications.
- Genfit: French biotech developing therapies for liver diseases including NASH (elafibranor program and follow-ons). Directly comparable to Axcella as a clinical-stage liver-disease specialist targeting similar patient populations.
- Akero Therapeutics: Clinical-stage NASH biotech developing efruxifermin (an FGF21 analog) with strong Phase 2b data. Direct competitor in NASH with similar stage of development and patient targeting as Axcella's NASH program.
- Galmed Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage biotech focused on liver diseases (aramchol for NASH). Direct comparable to Axcella as a sub-scale, clinical-stage NASH/liver specialist with similar capital constraints.
- Madrigal Pharmaceuticals: Developer of resmetirom (Rezdiffra), an approved therapy for NASH. Most relevant direct competitor in NASH; demonstrates the regulatory and commercial pathway Axcella would need to navigate in the same indication.
Emerging players
- Viking Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech with metabolic and liver programs (including VK2809 for NASH). Comparable to Axcella as a small-cap biotech pursuing liver/metabolic indications, though Viking is better-capitalized and has broader metabolic focus.
- Terns Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage biotech developing therapies for NASH and obesity. Comparable to Axcella as a small-cap liver-disease competitor advancing differentiated oral mechanisms in NASH.
- HighTide Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing therapies for NASH, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and other liver/gastrointestinal disorders. Direct overlap with Axcella's hepatology focus and clinical-stage profile.
Broad incumbents
- Bausch Health / Salix Pharmaceuticals: Established specialty pharma with Xifaxan (rifaximin), the standard-of-care therapy in OHE where Axcella is developing pipeline candidates. Comparable as the dominant incumbent whose market Axcella would need to disrupt.
- Mallinckrodt Therapeutics: Specialty pharma with hepatology and OHE-related products. Comparable as an established player in the OHE competitive landscape where Axcella's candidates are positioned.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Axcella social profiles
Digital presenceAxcella financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Axcella leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Axcella funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Axcella 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 Axcella
What does Axcella do?
Axcella Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing drug candidates based on endogenous metabolic modulators (EMMs) for chronic liver and metabolic diseases. Its lead clinical programs target Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy (OHE), Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), and Long COVID sequelae. The company was founded in 2010 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Is Axcella a public or private company?
Axcella is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Axcella founded?
Axcella was founded in 2010. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Axcella based?
Axcella is headquartered in Cambridge, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Axcella's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Genfit, Akero Therapeutics, Galmed Pharmaceuticals and Madrigal Pharmaceuticals. Emerging players are Viking Therapeutics, Terns Pharmaceuticals and HighTide Therapeutics. Broad incumbents are Bausch Health / Salix Pharmaceuticals and Mallinckrodt Therapeutics.
Does Axcella have an API?
No public API is recorded for Axcella.
What industry is Axcella in?
Axcella's product category is Biopharmaceuticals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAAAI, Gastroenterology & Hepatology Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of HLAIACAE, Gastroenterology Specialty Pharmaceuticals. Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 2834.