What Ichor Life Sciences does

Ichor Life Sciences is a privately held, US-based contract research organization (CRO) and venture studio founded in 2013 and headquartered in Syracuse, New York. The company provides preclinical research services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical clients through two main service divisions: Ichor Discovery Services (protein expression and purification across bacteria, yeast, insect, and mammalian systems; structural biology including X-ray crystallography; biophysical assays such as SPR, BLI, CD, nanoDSF, ITC, and NMR) and Ichor Pharmacology Services (drug discovery, cell-based assays, flow cytometry, histology, PK/PD, toxicology, and in vivo disease models spanning oncology, NASH, ophthalmology, geriatrics, cardiovascular, wound healing, and diet-induced obesity). In November 2023 the company added a third division, Ichor Clinical Trial Services, covering protocol design through close-out support, and in January 2024 extended this division internationally to Australia, Europe, and the UK through partnerships with Alithia Life Sciences and Afortiori Development. Ichor operates an AAALAC-accredited vivarium at its LaFayette, New York facility with in-house IACUC oversight and additional lab space at Clarkson University's Peyton Hall Biotechnology Incubator in Potsdam, NY.

The company derives the majority of its revenue from customized, project-based preclinical contract research engagements priced via quote, with services typically spanning multi-year contracts. A second revenue stream operates as a venture studio: Ichor launches and funds portfolio companies developing longevity- and aging-related therapeutics, including Lysoclear (enzyme therapy for macular degeneration and Stargardt's disease, launched 2014), Auctus Biologics (orally bioavailable 'ribobody' antibody mimetic scaffold, launched 2018), Lento Bio (anti-glycation small molecules for presbyopia, founded 2022 with Ichor as lead investor), MitoChem Therapeutics (mitochondrial dysfunction therapeutics, $1.5M Ichor investment 2022), and Cypris Therapeutics (therapeutically resistant cancers, launched 2024). Proprietary technology assets include the RPtag protein binding scaffold (23kD, orally bioavailable, derived from extremophile ribose-binding protein) and a custom SPR sensor for capturing protein complexes directly from cell lysate. Since 2013 the company has raised over $30 million in venture capital across its portfolio of companies under founder and CEO Dr. Kelsey Moody, PhD, MBA, and Chief Science Officer Dr. Aaron Wolfe, PhD.

Name

Ichor Life Sciences

Legal name

Ichor Life Sciences, Inc.

Website

https://ichorlifesciences.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Ichor Life Sciences is a US-based preclinical and clinical contract research organization headquartered in Syracuse, NY, providing protein expression, structural biology, biophysical assays, in vivo pharmacology, toxicology, and clinical trial services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, with an additional venture studio arm funding longevity and aging-related therapeutic companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Research Organization (Preclinical CRO Services)

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Clinical CROs (Phase I–IV) (HLAGAAAA), Toxicology & Safety Assessment CROs (GLP) (HLAGAAAC), Bioanalytical & Biomarker CROs (PK/PD/Immunogenicity) (HLAGAAAD)

Keywords

• Preclinical CRO services
• Contract research organization
• Drug discovery services
• Preclinical pharmacology services
• Protein expression services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lafayette

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Research Services: Ichor generates revenue through providing preclinical contract research services including protein expression, structural biology, biophysical assays, cell-based assays, in vivo pharmacology studies, toxicology studies, PK/PD services, and clinical trial management. Services are offered as customized project-based engagements with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.
2. Strategic Investments: Ichor makes strategic investments in portfolio companies (Lento Bio, MitoChem Therapeutics, Lysoclear, Auctus Biologics, Cypris Therapeutics) focused on longevity and aging-related therapeutics, demonstrating venture studio model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ichor Life Sciences is a full-service preclinical and clinical contract research organization (CRO) providing end-to-end drug discovery and development services. Its offering spans protein expression and purification, structural biology, biophysical assays, cell-based assays, in vivo disease models, PK/PD studies, toxicology, and clinical trial management. The company operates a venture studio model, launching and investing in portfolio companies (Lysoclear, Lento Bio, MitoChem Therapeutics, Auctus Biologics, Cypris Therapeutics) focused on longevity and aging-related therapeutics.

Product overview

Ichor Life Sciences is a full-service preclinical contract research organization (CRO) providing end-to-end services from discovery through clinical trials. The company operates through two main service divisions: Ichor Discovery Services (protein manufacturing, structural biology, biophysics, and assay development) and Ichor Pharmacology Services (in vitro testing, histology, PK/PD, toxicology, and in vivo efficacy studies). A third division, Ichor Clinical Trial Services, extends capabilities into clinical stages. The company also maintains a portfolio of venture companies including Lysoclear (enzyme therapy for eye disease), Lento Bio (anti-glycation drugs), MitoChem Therapeutics (mitochondrial dysfunction), Auctus Biologics (ribobody platform), and Cypris Therapeutics (resistant disease treatments). Services span oncology, metabolic disease, musculoskeletal disease, ophthalmology, and geriatrics therapeutic areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ichor Discovery Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Most projects start within 4 weeks of contract execution
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Alithia Life SciencesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 January 2024Strategic partnership with Australian CRO Alithia Life Sciences as part of Ichor Clinical's global expansion to Australia, providing clinical trial services with geographic expertise.
• Afortiori DevelopmentminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 January 2024Partnership with Ireland/UK-based CRO Afortiori Development for clinical trial services as part of Ichor Clinical's expansion to Europe and UK markets.
• Clarity Clinical ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2023Lisa Sonneborn, now President of Ichor Clinical Trial Services, previously founded and served as CEO of Clarity Clinical Research, which was acquired by the world's largest site management organization in 2021. This experience informs Ichor's clinical trial service offerings.
• SUNY-Upstate Medical UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 September 2022Collaboration with SUNY-Upstate Medical University on research article 'Coevolution of the Ess1-CTD axis in polar fungi suggests a role for phase separation in cold tolerance' published in Science Advances.
• Lento BiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 July 2022Dr. Kelsey Moody (CEO) and Dr. Aaron Wolfe (CSO) appointed to Lento Bio's board of directors and scientific advisory board respectively, bringing expertise in ophthalmology drug development and aging biology to support the company's therapeutic programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Charles River Laboratories: Global leader in preclinical CRO services including in vivo pharmacology, toxicology, and discovery research. Directly competes with Ichor's preclinical offerings but at vastly greater scale and broader therapeutic coverage.
• WuXi AppTec: One of the largest preclinical CROs globally, offering discovery, biology, DMPK, and toxicology services. Overlaps heavily with Ichor's protein expression, biophysical assays, and in vivo pharmacology capabilities.
• Eurofins Discovery: Division of Eurofins Scientific providing drug discovery and preclinical services including biophysics, in vitro pharmacology, and ADME. Overlaps with Ichor's assay development and pharmacology service lines.

Direct peers

• Inotiv: Preclinical CRO and research models provider serving pharma and biotech with toxicology, safety assessment, and discovery services. Closely comparable in scale and therapeutic focus to Ichor's preclinical division.
• Evotec: Integrated drug discovery and development CRO offering structural biology, in vitro/in vivo pharmacology, and clinical services. Comparable end-to-end preclinical-to-clinical service model to Ichor.
• Pharmaron: China/UK/US-based preclinical CRO providing protein expression, structural biology, in vitro/in vivo pharmacology, DMPK, and toxicology services. Directly overlaps with Ichor's discovery and pharmacology service lines.
• Crown Bioscience: Preclinical CRO specializing in oncology and immuno-oncology in vivo models, with translational platforms. Overlaps with Ichor's oncology/immuno-oncology in vivo disease models and pharmacology services.
• Reaction Biology: Mid-sized preclinical CRO offering biochemical and cell-based assays, biophysics, and protein production services. Closely comparable in scale and service mix to Ichor's discovery division.
• Alithia Life Sciences: Australian boutique CRO partnered with Ichor Clinical for clinical trial services. Provides clinical CRO capabilities comparable to Ichor's clinical trial services division in a regional geography.
• Sundia MediTech (now Sundia Clinical Services): Mid-sized CRO offering preclinical discovery and clinical trial management. Comparable integrated service model to Ichor's preclinical-plus-clinical positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IchorTherapeut1
• Facebookfacebook.com/ichorlifesciences
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ichorlifesciences

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments4 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Ichor Life Sciences