What Franklin Biolabs does

Franklin Biolabs is a privately held preclinical contract research organization headquartered in the Philadelphia area (King of Prussia), founded in 2024, that specializes in genetic medicines and biologics with a primary focus on adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector production. The company inherited manufacturing capabilities from the Penn Vector Core of the University of Pennsylvania Gene Therapy Program, giving it an established process library, serotype portfolio (including AAV1/2/5/8/9 plus more than 75 engineered serotypes), and a claimed 100% IND approval success rate since 2019. Its 150,000 sq. ft. facility houses dual production platforms (Sartorius single-use suspension bioreactors from 2L to 500L+ and iCELLis fixed-bed adherent bioreactors from 2.4 m² to 200+ m²), complemented by analytical, in vivo, and bioanalytics units, and recently earned CLIA certification for clinical-grade AAV neutralizing antibody testing.

The company's service portfolio is organized into three integrated business units: Vector | CMC | Analytics (research vector production, large-scale manufacturing, process development, and analytical testing), Preclinical | Translational (GLP toxicology, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and pathology), and Bioanalytics (immunogenicity, biodistribution, viral shedding). Add-on offerings include adenovirus and lentivirus production for CAR-T, oncolytic, and vaccine programs, plus CMC consulting. Franklin Biolabs has supported more than 1,000 clients across 30+ countries, 30 clinical candidates over the past five years, 50+ GMP manufacturing runs, and 3,000+ animal studies, with a reported 18–24 month timeline from candidate to IND.

Revenue is generated through project-based preclinical contract research services sold directly to global biotech, pharmaceutical, and academic institutions via enterprise field sales, supplemented by an online research vector ordering portal (VPM Portal) for mid-market and academic buyers. The company pursues a concierge, scientifically-engaged go-to-market approach, supported by industry conference presence (notably ASGCT), PR-led partnership announcements, and content marketing. Recent commercial moves include strategic alliances with Nordic Cell Therapy Group (cell therapy expansion, April 2026) and RareMoon Consulting (regulatory consulting bundling, May 2026). No ownership, funding, headcount, or revenue disclosures are available.

Name

Franklin Biolabs

Legal name

Franklin Biolabs

Website

https://franklinbio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Franklin Biolabs is a US preclinical CRO specializing in AAV vector production, process development, GLP toxicology, and bioanalytics for genetic medicines, serving global biotech, pharma, and academic gene therapy developers with a 150,000 sq. ft. Philadelphia-area facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Preclinical Contract Research Services (Gene Therapy / Cell Therapy CRO)

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Preclinical CROs (Discovery/Pharmacology/DMPK) (HLAGAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Toxicology & Safety Assessment CROs (GLP) (HLAGAAAC), Bioanalytical & Biomarker CROs (PK/PD/Immunogenicity) (HLAGAAAD), Clinical Data Management, Biostatistics & Statistical Programming CROs (HLAGAAAF)

Keywords

• Preclinical CRO services
• AAV vector manufacturing
• Gene therapy contract research
• Biologics process development
• GLP toxicology studies

Headquarters

HQ city

King Of Prussia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Preclinical Contract Research Services: Franklin Biolabs generates revenue through providing comprehensive preclinical CRO services including research vector production, process development, large-scale manufacturing, analytics, and preclinical studies (toxicology, pharmacology, biodistribution) on a project-based contract basis. Services span from early discovery support through IND-enabling studies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Franklin Biolabs is a fully integrated preclinical contract research organization (CRO) that provides AAV vector manufacturing, process development, analytical testing, GLP toxicology/in vivo studies, bioanalytics, and CMC consulting for cell and gene therapy developers. Its services span from early discovery research vector production through IND-enabling studies, supported by dual suspension and adherent production platforms and a CLIA-certified AAV NAb testing capability.

Product overview

Franklin Biolabs is a fully integrated preclinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) specializing in genetic medicines and biologics. The company operates three interconnected business units: (1) Vector | CMC | Analytics encompassing research vector production, large-scale AAV manufacturing, process development, and analytical testing; (2) Preclinical | Translational Services including GLP toxicology, in vivo studies, and pathology; and (3) Bioanalytics covering immunogenicity, biodistribution, and viral shedding. The company has acquired certain vector manufacturing capabilities from the Penn Vector Core and offers integrated CMC consulting services. All services are designed to support clients from discovery through IND submission, with a reported 100% IND approval success rate since 2019.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Vector Production AAV research vector packaging and production services for preclinical studies, supporting gene therapy development from early discovery through IND submissions. Includes wild type and engineered serotypes, novel capsid packaging, and custom vector design for biotech, pharma, and academic clients.
• Large-Scale AAV Manufacturing Scalable AAV vector manufacturing at clinical scale using suspension (Sartorius single-use bioreactors, 2L to 500L+) and adherent (iCELLis fixed-bed bioreactors, 2.4m² to 200+m²) production platforms to support IND-enabling studies and GMP-ready material production.
• Process Development Upstream and downstream process development services for AAV vectors, including transfection parameter optimization, media selection, feed strategy, scale-up confirmation, and platform-based or client-specific purification methods.
• Analytics Comprehensive analytical testing services for genetic medicines, including next-generation sequencing, particle characterization, titer assays, compendial assays, excipient analysis, mass spectrometry, cell-based potency assays, residuals testing, and custom assay development.
• Preclinical / Translational Services In vivo preclinical and translational studies including pharmacology, efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and GLP toxicology studies with QA oversight, histopathology, image analysis, and safety assessments for cell and gene therapies.
• Bioanalytics Bioanalytical services including immunogenicity assessment, biodistribution studies, viral shedding analysis, and biomarker characterization for advanced therapies from preclinical through clinical stages.
• Immunogenicity Services Assessment services for antibodies to AAV vectors that may reduce efficacy of gene therapies, with evaluation throughout preclinical and clinical stages, including CLIA-certified AAV neutralizing antibody testing.
• Adenovirus and Lentivirus Production Expanded viral vector production services for adenovirus and lentivirus, supporting CAR-T applications, oncolytic programs, and vaccine development in addition to AAV vectors.
• CMC Consulting Services End-to-end Chemistry, Manufacturing & Controls (CMC) consulting solutions for advanced therapies, including manufacturing and analytical foundation development, phase-appropriate processes, analytical strategies, and development roadmaps to support IND readiness.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% IND approval success rate since 2019
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• RareMoon ConsultingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026Franklin Biolabs and RareMoon Consulting announced a strategic partnership to offer integrated consulting packages supporting preclinical-to-clinical development transitions. The collaboration aims to help sponsors reduce development risk, prevent delays, and accelerate timelines by designing regulatory-aligned development programs. Both companies will attend the ASGCT Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts from May 12-14, 2026. RareMoon Consulting brings regulatory services expertise focused on orphan drugs and advanced therapies.
• Nordic Cell Therapy GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Franklin Biolabs and Nordic Cell Therapy Group announced a strategic alliance to accelerate cell therapy development. This partnership expands Franklin Biolabs' capabilities in the cell therapy space, combining their preclinical expertise with Nordic Cell Therapy Group's specialized offerings.
• Penn Vector Core (University of Pennsylvania)coreTechnology or IntegrationCertain vector manufacturing capabilities previously provided by the Penn Vector Core of the Gene Therapy Program at the University of Pennsylvania have been acquired by Franklin Biolabs. This transfer brought established manufacturing processes, expertise, and established customer relationships to Franklin Biolabs.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Yposkesi: Yposkesi is a European-based AAV and gene therapy CDMO offering process development, GMP manufacturing, and analytical services. It is a comparable specialized competitor serving a similar biotech and academic sponsor base.
• Forge Biologics: Forge Biologics is a dedicated AAV and gene therapy CDMO offering end-to-end development, manufacturing, and analytical services. It is the closest direct competitor to Franklin Biolabs in AAV-focused contract services.
• Cobra Biologics (Charles River): Cobra Biologics, now part of Charles River Laboratories, provides viral vector and plasmid DNA manufacturing services for gene therapy and vaccine clients. It directly overlaps with Franklin Biolabs' AAV and lentivirus vector production offerings.
• Andelyn Biosciences: Andelyn Biosciences is an AAV and gene therapy-focused CDMO spun out of Nationwide Children's Hospital. It competes directly with Franklin Biolabs in preclinical and clinical-stage AAV manufacturing for academic and biotech sponsors.

Broad incumbents

• Charles River Laboratories: Charles River Laboratories is a global preclinical CRO with extensive safety assessment, toxicology, and biologics capabilities, including viral vector work via the Cobra acquisition. It is a broad incumbent serving overlapping biotech and pharma customers.
• WuXi Advanced Therapies: WuXi AppTec's Advanced Therapies unit offers viral vector and cell therapy manufacturing services globally. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping AAV and gene therapy CRO/CDMO capabilities competing for biotech sponsor business.
• Catalent (Novo Holdings): Catalent is one of the largest global CDMOs with significant AAV and gene therapy capabilities following the Paragon acquisition. It is a broad incumbent offering overlapping preclinical and commercial manufacturing services to similar biotech and pharma customers.
• Thermo Fisher Viral Vector Services: Thermo Fisher Scientific offers viral vector manufacturing and related analytical services through its Pharma Services division. It is a broad incumbent competing with Franklin Biolabs for gene therapy CRO/CDMO business at larger scale.

Others

• Lonza: Lonza is a global biopharmaceutical CDMO with expanding cell and gene therapy manufacturing capacity. It competes with Franklin Biolabs across AAV, cell therapy, and biologics services, though at much greater scale.

Emerging players

• Vineti: Vineti provides cell and gene therapy orchestration and supply chain software/platforms. While not a direct manufacturing peer, it serves the same advanced therapy sponsors and is adjacent in the gene therapy development workflow.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/franklinbio

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Franklin Biolabs