Gannet BioChem

What Gannet BioChem does

Gannet BioChem is a specialty Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) providing custom polymer science services for complex therapeutics. The company's core capabilities span activated polymers, polyethylene glycol (PEG) chemistry, and bioconjugation, supporting therapeutic developers from early discovery through clinical development and commercial cGMP manufacturing. End markets include PEGylation of proteins, peptides, and small molecules, polymer-enabled drug delivery, and medical device polymer applications. Gannet BioChem is headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama in a 124,000+ sq. ft. FDA-inspected facility with seven manufacturing suites scaling up to 800L, supplemented by a 16,000 sq. ft. FDA-registered activated PEG manufacturing facility in Arab, Alabama acquired via the January 2026 Laysan Bio transaction.

The company's technology platform is built on more than three decades of PEG chemistry expertise originating with Shearwater Polymers (founded 1992 by Dr. Milton Harris) and continued through Nektar Therapeutics, from which Gannet was spun out in 2024. Differentiated capabilities include PEG architectures spanning <500 Da to ~60 kDa across linear, branched, multi-arm, and forked configurations; polymer-specific analytical methods (MALDI-TOF, GPC/SEC, qNMR, LC-MS); process development tools (EasyMax reactors, AKTA chromatography, preparative HPLC, small-scale agitated filter dryers); and cold-chain storage at 2–8°C, -20°C, and -80°C. The company has supported 9 FDA-approved therapies and reports a 100% on-time, in-full delivery record across PEG reagent manufacturing programs.

The business model combines two revenue streams: (1) custom CDMO services (process development, analytical method development, cGMP manufacturing) sold through enterprise direct sales to pharma and biotech customers, priced via quote-based custom and cGMP contracts; and (2) catalog PEG reagent product sales (monofunctional, bifunctional, heterobifunctional, multi-arm, and specialty reagents) priced from $24 to $1,200 per unit via a self-service online storefront at catalog.gannetbiochem.com. Distribution is global, with domestic FedEx overnight and international priority shipping. The company is privately held and backed by Ampersand Capital Partners, a Boston-based healthcare-focused private equity firm with $3 billion in assets under management.

Name

Gannet BioChem

Legal name

Gannet BioChem

Website

https://gannetbiochem.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Gannet BioChem is a specialty CDMO providing activated polymer, PEG chemistry, and bioconjugation services to pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies across preclinical, clinical, and commercial stages. It operates FDA-inspected facilities in Huntsville and Arab, Alabama, and is backed by Ampersand Capital Partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Development and Manufacturing (CDMO)

NAICS

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411)

SIC

Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Drug Substance–Drug Product Integrated CDMO (HLAGABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Small-Molecule API & Intermediates CDMO (HLAGABAA), Clinical Trial Material (CTM) Manufacturing & Supply CDMO (HLAGABAK)

Keywords

• PEG reagent manufacturing
• Activated polymer synthesis
• Bioconjugation CDMO
• CGMP contract manufacturing
• Polymer chemistry services

Headquarters

HQ city

Huntsville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. CDMO Manufacturing Services: Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization services supporting therapeutic programs from early development through commercial supply, including polymer process development, analytical services, and cGMP manufacturing.
2. PEG Reagent Product Sales: Sale of catalog and custom PEG reagents including monofunctional, bifunctional, heterobifunctional, and multi-arm products across various functional groups (aldehydes, amines, maleimides, esters, thiols, etc.) with prices ranging from $24 to $1,200 depending on product type and quantity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Gannet BioChem is a specialty Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) providing activated polymer and PEG chemistry services for therapeutic developers. The company supports programs from early development through cGMP and commercial manufacturing, including custom polymer synthesis, PEGylation and bioconjugation strategies, analytical method development, and compliant activated polymer production at multiple scales. It also sells a catalog of standard PEG reagents (monofunctional, bifunctional, heterobifunctional, and multi-arm) directly to pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, and academic customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Laysan Bio: A subsidiary specializing in catalog, custom, and compliant activated PEG reagents for therapeutic, medical device, and research applications, operating from Arab, Alabama

Products and services

• cGMP Manufacturing Services Integrated cGMP manufacturing services that support therapeutic programs from early development through commercial supply. Services include production of complex polymer chemistries at small (up to 200L) and large (400-800L) scales across seven manufacturing suites in FDA-inspected facilities in Huntsville and Arab, Alabama, targeted at pharmaceutical and biotech partners requiring compliant activated polymer production.
• Activated Polymer Services End-to-end activated polymer services supporting development, scale-up, and manufacturing of complex materials with diverse architectures, molecular weights, and functional groups. Targeted at therapeutic developers needing polymer-enabled drug delivery solutions and combines deep polymer expertise with integrated analytical services to translate early concepts into scalable, manufacturing-ready solutions.
• PEG & Bioconjugation Services Consulting and development services for PEG structure selection, linker chemistry design, and bioconjugation strategies for proteins, peptides, and small molecules. Supports partners in improving stability, pharmacokinetics, and manufacturability through PEGylation and conjugate development, drawing on more than three decades of PEG chemistry experience.
• Analytical Method Development & Validation Phase-appropriate analytical method development supporting critical quality attributes, process decisions, and regulatory readiness for polymers, PEGs, and conjugated systems. Includes MALDI-TOF for polymer mass distribution, GPC/SEC with advanced detection, NMR/qNMR for end-group analysis, LC-MS strategies tailored for PEGs and conjugates, and stability and forced degradation studies.
• PEG Reagent Catalog Online catalog of catalog PEG reagents including monofunctional, bifunctional, heterobifunctional, multi-arm, and specialty reagents across functional groups such as aldehydes, amines, maleimides, esters, and thiols. Available for purchase through the company's e-commerce catalog with prices ranging from $24 to $1,200 depending on product type, molecular weight, and quantity.
• CDMO Project Management Services Dedicated project management that translates technical complexity into realistic plans, supporting efficient development, informed decision-making, and dependable execution from early development through cGMP and commercial manufacturing. Provided to partners as part of contracted CDMO engagements.
• mPEG Propionaldehyde 20K (with Type II Drug Master File) Compliant methoxy PEG propionaldehyde reagent of 20 kDa molecular weight, supplied with a Type II Drug Master File from the Arab, AL facility to support biosimilar development and commercial supply, including pegfilgrastim biosimilars.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9 FDA-approved therapies supported through PEG reagent supply
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Laysan Bio (Acquired)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2026Life sciences company based in Arab, Alabama, acquired in January 2026. Trusted supplier of cataloged, custom, and compliant activated polymer reagents since 2006. Specializes in PEG reagents for therapeutic, medical device, and research applications. Operates 16,000 sq. ft. FDA-registered manufacturing facility.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Veranova: Specialty CDMO offering development and manufacturing services for active pharmaceutical ingredients, with overlap in complex chemistries and a similar enterprise customer base. Gannet CEO Nicholas Shackley previously served as CCO at Veranova, underscoring direct competitive and capability overlap.
• Lubrizol Life Science Health: CDMO offering polymer-based drug delivery and excipient manufacturing, including PEG-related chemistries, as part of a broader specialty chemicals portfolio. Competes with Gannet in activated polymer services and PEG-based formulation support for pharmaceutical customers.
• Polypeptide Group: Specialty CDMO focused on peptide and oligonucleotide APIs with related conjugation capabilities. Adjacent to Gannet in bioconjugation services and shares pharmaceutical and biotech customers, though primarily peptide-focused rather than PEG-focused.
• Catalent: Large global CDMO providing development, manufacturing, and packaging services across modalities including biologics and small molecules. Competes for integrated CDMO mandates from large pharma, often bundling services that overlap with Gannet's polymer and PEGylation offerings.

Direct peers

• Nektar Therapeutics: Polymer-enabled therapeutics company whose PEGylation heritage and former Shearwater Polymers unit form the technical foundation of Gannet BioChem. Competes for the same PEG reagent and bioconjugation customers and shares deep overlap in activated polymer chemistry.
• Quanta BioDesign: Supplier of high-purity PEG reagents and bioconjugation linkers for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Directly competes with Gannet's PEG reagent catalog offering on functional groups, molecular weights, and custom synthesis services.
• Creative PEGWorks: Manufacturer of PEG derivatives and bioconjugation reagents serving academic, biotech, and pharmaceutical customers. Overlaps directly with Gannet's PEG reagent catalog across monofunctional, bifunctional, and multi-arm PEG architectures.
• Iris Biotech: PEG reagent and bioconjugation specialist supplying catalog and custom PEG products to pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic customers in Europe and globally. Competes for the same PEG reagent and bioconjugation wallet, particularly for research and early-stage programs.
• JenKem Technology: PEG derivative manufacturer supplying monofunctional, heterobifunctional, and multi-arm PEG reagents as well as custom PEG synthesis. Direct competitor in the global PEG reagent catalog and custom synthesis market served by Gannet.

Emerging players

• Biomatik: Provider of PEGylated products and custom peptide/protein services with growing presence in PEG reagent supply. An emerging participant that overlaps with Gannet's PEG reagent catalog and custom synthesis services for research and therapeutic customers.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gannetbiochem

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Gannet BioChem