MatTek

What MatTek does

MatTek Corporation is a life sciences company founded in 1985 by MIT scientists that develops and manufactures 3D reconstructed human epithelial tissue models used as alternatives to animal testing in toxicology, drug development, and biomedical research. The company's core technology grows living, metabolically active human tissue constructs at an air-liquid interface, replicating native tissue architecture for endpoints including skin irritation/corrosion (EpiDerm), eye irritation (EpiOcular), respiratory toxicity (EpiAirway), intestinal absorption (EpiIntestinal), vaginal irritation (EpiVaginal), hepatotoxicity (HUREL micro livers), and nephrotoxicity (EpiKidney), among 18+ tissue models. The platform is augmented by Visikol tissue clearing reagents for 3D imaging and AIM Biotech organ-on-a-chip microfluidic systems.

MatTek operates a hybrid revenue model with three streams: (1) catalog and per-unit sales of tissue models, reagents, and cultureware via direct sales in the US/Europe and regional distributors in Japan (Kurabo, Phoenix Science), Korea (Dail Scientific), and India (MS Clinical Research); (2) fee-for-service contract testing, histology, and image analysis; and (3) technology licensing to pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and chemical companies. Primary customers are cosmetics/personal care companies needing REACH and EU Cosmetics Regulation compliance, pharmaceutical/biotech firms running preclinical ADMET and DMPK studies, and academic/government research institutions. Catalog pricing ranges from $168 to $990 per unit with tiered volume discounts, while custom tissues and contract services are quote-based.

Following its July 2025 acquisition by Sartorius AG (a public German life science group), MatTek operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary with manufacturing in Ashland, Massachusetts and Bratislava, Slovakia. The company is differentiated by regulatory validations from OECD (TG 439, 431, 492, 498), ECVAM, the US EPA, and ISO 10993-23 for medical device testing, plus marquee validations including NASA use of EpiOcular for lunar dust ocular toxicity assessment.

Name

MatTek

Legal name

MatTek Corporation

Website

https://mattek.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

MatTek Corporation is a 1985-founded life sciences company producing 3D reconstructed human epithelial tissue models as validated alternatives to animal testing, serving pharmaceutical, cosmetics, chemical, and academic research customers globally through direct sales and a distributor network, now a subsidiary of Sartorius AG.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

In Vitro Tissue Models

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (3391)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

In Vitro Toxicology (Cell-based/Organ-on-chip) (HLAGAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Organoids & Organ-on-Chip (regenerative models) (HLAAAGAD), In Vitro Model Systems & Organoid Platforms (iPSC/organoids, microphysiological systems) (HLAAAIAJ)

Keywords

• In vitro tissue models
• Human epithelial tissues
• Toxicology testing products
• Drug safety testing
• Alternative animal testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Ashland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tissue and Reagent Product Sales: MatTek's primary revenue stream is the sale of 3D reconstructed human tissue models (EpiDerm, EpiOcular, EpiAirway, EpiIntestinal) along with associated reagents, cultureware, and assay kits. Products include tissues, cells, tissues-on-chips, and Visikol branded reagents. Revenue is generated through direct sales and distributor channels on a per-unit and per-product basis.
2. Contract Testing and Laboratory Services: MatTek offers fee-for-service testing services including histology, image analysis (Confocal, HCR, H&E, IHC), and custom contract testing programs. These services provide a recurring revenue stream from existing customers seeking to outsource in vitro testing without internal capabilities.
3. Technology Licensing: MatTek licenses its proprietary tissue model technologies and methodologies to pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and chemical companies for internal research and regulatory submissions. Licensing arrangements may include upfront fees, milestone payments, and royalties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MatTek manufactures and sells lab-grown 3D reconstructed human epithelial tissue models (EpiDerm, EpiOcular, EpiAirway, EpiIntestinal, EpiVaginal, EpiAlveolar, EpiKidney, EpiLiver, HUREL Micro Livers and others) along with Visikol tissue clearing reagents, cultureware, primary human cells, and organ-on-a-chip systems. The company also provides fee-for-service contract testing including histology, image analysis, and custom in vitro assays. Products serve pharmaceutical, cosmetics, chemical, and academic research customers for safety and efficacy assessment as validated alternatives to animal testing.

Product overview

MatTek is a life sciences company specializing in human-relevant in vitro testing solutions. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of lab-grown human epithelial tissue models (EpiDerm, EpiOcular, EpiAirway, EpiIntestinal, EpiVaginal, EpiAlveolar, EpiKidney, EpiLiver, and others) for safety testing, drug discovery, and biomedical research. The product portfolio spans three main categories: Human Tissue Models (3D reconstructed tissues for toxicology and drug testing), Cultureware (glass bottom dishes, multi-well plates, spheroid culture plates, organ-on-a-chip systems), and Visikol Products (tissue clearing reagents and buffers for 3D imaging). Additional offerings include primary human cells, HUREL micro liver products for hepatotoxicity screening, and specialized accessories. The company was founded in 1985 by MIT scientists and is now part of Sartorius AG, acquired in July 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EpiDerm A reconstructed human skin tissue model for skin irritation, corrosion, phototoxicity testing, and dermatological research. ECVAM validated and OECD TG 439/431/498 accepted as a full replacement for animal-based skin testing.
• EpiOcular A reconstructed human cornea-like tissue model for eye irritation testing. OECD TG 492 accepted (third OECD-accepted assay globally) and US EPA accepted as an alternative method for antimicrobial pesticide classification.
• EpiAirway A lab-grown human respiratory airway tissue model used for inhalation toxicology, drug delivery, and respiratory infection research.
• EpiIntestinal A 3D human small intestinal tissue model reconstructed from primary human cells for drug absorption, safety assessment, and intestinal inflammation studies.
• EpiVaginal A reconstructed human vaginal tissue model used for vaginal irritation assessment, microbicide testing, and STD infection research. The only commercially available model referenced in FDA guidance for vaginal irritation.
• EpiAlveolar A human alveolar tissue model for pulmonary drug delivery, inhaled drug testing, and respiratory toxicology applications featuring air-blood barrier reconstruction.
• EpiKidney A human kidney tissue model used for nephrotoxicity assessment and kidney-related drug discovery applications.
• HUREL Micro Livers Primary hepatocyte-based micro liver models representing multiple mammalian species for hepatotoxicity screening, metabolic stability, and metabolite identification services.
• HUREL ZooPlates Micro liver plates featuring multiple mammalian species (12 different models representing 10 species) custom-configured on a single labware plate for cross-species hepatotoxicity comparison.
• EpiDermFT A full-thickness human skin model containing both epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts, used for wound healing studies, anti-aging research, and comprehensive dermatological testing.
• MelanoDerm A human epidermal model containing functional melanocytes used for skin lightening studies and pigmentation research.
• Psoriasis Model An organotypic 3D psoriatic tissue model for evaluation of anti-psoriasis drug therapeutics and dermatological research.
• EpiCorneal A reconstructed human corneal tissue model for corneal drug delivery studies of ophthalmic formulations and eye irritation testing.
• EpiLiver A human liver tissue model for hepatotoxicity assessment and liver disease research applications.
• EpiNasal A human nasal tissue model for nasal drug delivery and respiratory toxicology research.
• Melanoma Model A human melanoma tissue model for anti-melanoma drug screening and skin cancer research.
• EpiOral and EpiGingival Human oral mucosal and gingival tissue models for oral irritation testing, absorption studies, oral candidiasis research, and oral mucosal drug delivery.
• Visikol HISTO Tissue Clearing Reagents A tissue clearing reagent pair (HISTO-1 and HISTO-2) for rendering biological tissues transparent to enable 3D imaging without damaging cellular morphology, reversible for follow-up 2D histology.
• BIOFLOAT Plates Ultra-low attachment cell culture plates with cell-repelling polymer coating for rapid spheroid and organoid formation, available in 96-well and 384-well formats.
• Glass Bottom Dishes Glass bottom dishes combining the convenience of disposable plastic petri dishes with the optical quality of glass for superior microscopic imaging, available in 35mm, 50mm, 60mm, and 100mm sizes.
• Organ-on-a-Chip Systems 3D cell culture systems by AIM Biotech for microfluidic tissue modeling applications.
• Normal Human Primary Cells Primary cells isolated and expanded from native donor tissue including keratinocytes, melanocytes, dermal fibroblasts, bronchial epithelial cells, bronchial fibroblasts, and dendritic immune cells.
• Contract Testing and Laboratory Services Fee-for-service testing services including histology, image analysis (Confocal, HCR, H&E, IHC), and custom contract testing programs for customers seeking to outsource in vitro testing without internal capabilities. Includes hepatotoxicity assay services, HUREL Flux service, metabolic stability, metabolite identification, reaction phenotyping, digital pathology, and immunofluorescent panel services.

Quantifiable outcome

• EpiOcular EIT became the 3rd OECD-accepted assay globally, providing a validated alternative to animal-based eye irritation testing
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Kurabo Industries Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKurabo Industries Ltd. serves as MatTek's exclusive distributor in Japan for tissue products. Kurabo, a diversified Japanese trading and manufacturing company with significant life science interests, provides local sales, distribution, regulatory support, and customer service for Japanese customers.
• Phoenix Science, Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPhoenix Science, Inc. distributes MatTek products in Japan, complementing Kurabo's coverage. The company specializes in scientific instrumentation and reagents, providing local market access and technical support for MatTek's tissue models in the Japanese market.
• Dail Scientific Trade, Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDail Scientific Trade, Inc. is MatTek's distributor in South Korea. The company provides local sales, distribution, and customer support for MatTek's reconstructed human tissue models and reagents in the Korean market, supporting both cosmetics and pharmaceutical customers.
• MS Clinical Research Pvt LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMS Clinical Research Pvt Ltd serves as MatTek's distributor in India. The company supports local sales and distribution of MatTek's in vitro tissue models and services, addressing growing demand from Indian pharmaceutical companies, cosmetics firms, and research institutions seeking to replace animal testing.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Episkin (L'Oréal): Episkin is L'Oréal's reconstructed human skin model subsidiary, producing EpiSkin, SkinEthic, and other epithelial tissue equivalents for safety and efficacy testing. It is the most direct competitor to MatTek's EpiDerm line, sharing the same OECD/ECVAM validated endpoints and competing for the same cosmetics and chemical safety testing customers globally.

Emerging players

• Emulate: Emulate develops organ-on-chip platforms (Liver-Chip, Lung-Chip, etc.) used for drug toxicity and disease modeling. While MatTek's core is air-liquid-interface epithelial models, its organ-on-chip partnership with AIM Biotech targets the same predictive toxicology and drug discovery customers that Emulate serves with integrated microfluidic systems.
• Mimetas: Mimetas offers OrganoPlate microfluidic 3D cell culture platforms for organ-on-chip applications in toxicology and disease modeling. Both companies serve the same pharmaceutical preclinical safety and efficacy testing end-market with human-relevant in vitro alternatives, although Mimetas is differentiated by its plate-based microfluidic format rather than membrane-based tissues.
• CN Bio: CN Bio provides multi-organ microphysiological systems (LiverChip, LungChip, gut models) for drug discovery and toxicology. It overlaps with MatTek's hepatotoxicity (HUREL), lung (EpiAirway), and intestinal (EpiIntestinal) product lines, targeting the same pharma DMPK and IND-enabling preclinical customers.
• TissUse: TissUse develops multi-organ-chip (MOC) platforms combining several organ models on a single chip for systemic toxicity and efficacy testing. It addresses the same next-generation human-relevant preclinical testing market as MatTek, but with a multi-organ integration angle that complements (rather than directly displaces) MatTek's single-tissue products.
• InSphero: InSphero provides 3D spheroid and organoid models (liver, pancreatic islet, tumor) for predictive toxicology and disease research. It competes with MatTek's HUREL micro-liver platform and serves overlapping pharma and chemical industry customers seeking human-relevant in vitro alternatives for hepatotoxicity and metabolism studies.
• Cell Microsystems: Cell Microsystems sells CellRaft AIR and other single-cell and organoid imaging platforms for 3D cell culture workflows. It is thematically adjacent to MatTek's cultureware and BIOFLOAT spheroid plate businesses, targeting similar academic and translational research customers investing in 3D in vitro model infrastructure.
• Reprocell: Reprocell (Japan-headquartered) provides iPSC-derived cell products and in vitro assay services for preclinical drug discovery and toxicology. It overlaps with MatTek's primary cells offering and EpiDerm/EpiAirway applications, particularly serving Japanese pharma customers where MatTek relies on Kurabo and Phoenix Science distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Corning Life Sciences: Corning Life Sciences is a major manufacturer of cell culture plasticware, media, and Matrigel basement membrane matrix widely used as substrates for tissue models. While not a direct tissue model vendor, Corning supplies cultureware and substrates to the same 3D cell culture customers, competing in some product overlap areas (e.g., Transwell inserts vs. MatTek PermaCell inserts).
• Cyprotex (Evotec): Cyprotex, an Evotec company, provides ADME and in vitro toxicology contract research services alongside some cell-based assay products. It overlaps with MatTek's contract testing service line, particularly for hepatotoxicity, DMPK, and metabolic stability work where HUREL micro livers are used, competing for pharma preclinical outsourcing budgets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mattek_corp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@matteklifesciences
• Facebookfacebook.com/mattekcorporation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mattek-corporation
• Instagraminstagram.com/matteklifesciences

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

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 MatTek