3Helix
3Helix develops Collagen Hybridizing Peptides (CHPs) — synthetic peptides that selectively bind damaged collagen — sold as research reagents to academic labs and pharmaceutical/biotech R&D groups studying fibrosis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and tissue remodeling.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersSalt Lake City, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What 3Helix does
3Helix, Inc. is a private life science tools and therapeutics company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. The company develops and commercializes Collagen Hybridizing Peptides (CHPs) — short (30-amino-acid) synthetic peptides that selectively bind unfolded, damaged, or remodeling collagen by reforming the triple-helical structure. Because CHPs target the conserved Gly-X-Y repeating sequence common to all collagen types and species, they enable specific detection of tissue damage that traditional stains such as Masson's Trichrome or Picrosirius Red cannot differentiate from intact collagen. The current product portfolio comprises five labeled variants (F-CHP, B-CHP, R-CHP, In Vivo CHP, and Auto-CHP) sold as research reagents at unit prices of approximately $218-$429 per vial.
The company sells primarily to academic research institutions and pharmaceutical/biotech R&D groups working on fibrosis, cancer metastasis, osteoarthritis, myocardial infarction, and developmental biology, with a secondary customer base of contract research organizations. Revenue is generated through direct e-commerce (3helix.com), US distributors including Fisher Scientific, Advanced BioMatrix, and Echelon, and an international distributor network spanning Europe, Asia, and Oceania. The company also maintains an active application-notes and case-study publishing program supported by 700+ peer-reviewed publications that cite CHP products.
Beyond research reagents, 3Helix is advancing two strategic adjacencies: (1) a next-generation bioACTIVE CHP platform that combines targeted collagen binding with therapeutic payload delivery, positioning the technology for drug development applications, and (2) a CHP-based cosmetic ingredient (NeoHelix™ Regenerate) co-developed with BASF and launched in April 2026, representing the company's first commercial move outside life science research. The company is founder-led (CEO Mike Kirkness, PhD) with a small (1-10 employee) team and is not publicly listed.
3Helix firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 3Helix
- Legal name
- 3Helix, Inc.
- Website
- https://3helix.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- 3Helix develops Collagen Hybridizing Peptides (CHPs) — synthetic peptides that selectively bind damaged collagen — sold as research reagents to academic labs and pharmaceutical/biotech R&D groups studying fibrosis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and tissue remodeling.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
3Helix industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Life Science Research Reagents
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Therapeutic Peptides & Protein/Peptide Biologics (HLAAAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization) (HLAAAIAC)
Keywords
Where 3Helix is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Salt Lake City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
3Helix business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Research Reagent Sales: 3Helix generates revenue through direct sales of Collagen Hybridizing Peptide products to research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and biotech firms. Products are sold in various conjugate formats (F-CHP, R-CHP, B-CHP, In Vivo CHP, Auto-CHP) at unit-based pricing. Revenue is primarily one-time transactional for research reagents, with no recurring subscription component for standard products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | F-CHP (Fluorescein Conjugate) - Standard research reagent for histology and immunofluorescence |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | B-CHP (Biotin Conjugate) - Flexible detection options for immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | R-CHP (Cy3 Conjugate) - Red fluorescence for tissues with high green autofluorescence |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | In Vivo CHP (sCy7.5 Conjugate) - Near-infrared for in vivo imaging |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
3Helix product offering
Product offeringCore offering
3Helix manufactures and sells Collagen Hybridizing Peptide (CHP) research reagents — short synthetic peptides that selectively bind denatured, damaged, or remodeling collagen via triple-helix reformation. The portfolio includes five labeled variants (F-CHP, B-CHP, R-CHP, In Vivo CHP, Auto-CHP) used by academic, pharmaceutical, and biotech researchers in histopathology, fibrosis, cancer, cardiovascular, and in vivo imaging studies. The company is also developing a bioACTIVE CHP platform that combines collagen-targeting with therapeutic payload delivery.
Product overview
3Helix is a life science tools and therapeutics company founded in 2015, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Its core product line is Collagen Hybridizing Peptides (CHPs) — short synthetic peptides that selectively bind unfolded, damaged, or remodeling collagen for applications in therapeutics, cosmetics, drug delivery systems, and life science research tools. The portfolio includes five labeled variants: F-CHP (5-FAM fluorescein conjugate), B-CHP (biotin conjugate), R-CHP (Cy3 red-fluorescence conjugate), In Vivo CHP (sCy7.5 near-infrared conjugate), and Auto-CHP (biotin conjugate for automated staining platforms). The company is also developing a next-generation bioACTIVE CHP platform that both targets damaged collagen and delivers therapeutic payloads, and announced a CHP-based cosmetic ingredient called NeoHelix™ Regenerate in partnership with BASF.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- F-CHP (5-FAM Conjugate) Collagen Hybridizing Peptide labeled with fluorescein (5-FAM) for direct fluorescence detection of denatured collagen in immunofluorescence, cell imaging, and SDS-PAGE in-gel western applications. Molecular weight 2952.01 g/mol, 85% purity by HPLC; available in 60µg and 300µg vial sizes plus negative control.
- B-CHP (Biotin Conjugate) Collagen Hybridizing Peptide labeled with biotin for avidin/streptavidin-mediated detection, offering flexible options including non-green fluorescence, HRP-enzyme methods, and TEM imaging with streptavidin-conjugated gold nanoparticles. Molecular weight 2762.01 g/mol; available in 60µg and 300µg sizes with negative control options.
- R-CHP (Cy3 Conjugate) Collagen Hybridizing Peptide labeled with sulfo-Cyanine3 for direct fluorescence detection of denatured collagen. Recommended for tissues with high autofluorescence in the green spectrum or to avoid spectral overlap with other markers. Molecular weight 3191.44 g/mol, excitation 548 nm, emission 563 nm; available in 60µg and 300µg sizes.
- In Vivo CHP (sCy7.5 Conjugate) Collagen Hybridizing Peptide labeled with sulfonated-cyanine 7.5 dye for near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) in vivo imaging of collagen damage in living animals. Features a modified sequence that does not require pre-activation heating, enabling direct injection and signal lasting for days at target sites. Molecular weight 3703.1 g/mol, excitation 778 nm, emission 797 nm; sold per vial (3 doses) at $429 USD, with control peptide and kit (10 targeted + 3 control doses) formats.
- Auto-CHP (Biotin Conjugate for Automated Staining) Collagen Hybridizing Peptide specifically formulated for automated staining platforms (Leica Bond-RXm, Roche Discovery Ultra, Biocare Medical Valent). The new sequence eliminates the pre-activation heating step and remains stable in solution at 4°C for months; biotin-labeled for flexible detection with immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry workflows.
Quantifiable outcome
- Detection of fibrotic disease progression up to two times sooner than traditional staining methods in MASH research
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use 3Helix
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
3Helix technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
3Helix partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- BASFcore3Helix announced a partnership with BASF in fall 2023 to develop a CHP-based cosmetic ingredient. BASF subsequently launched NeoHelix™ Regenerate in April 2026, representing the first commercial application of 3Helix's collagen-targeting technology in the cosmetics sector. This partnership validates 3Helix's technology beyond research applications into commercial consumer products.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
3Helix competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Sigma-Aldrich (Merck KGaA Life Science): The world's largest generalist life-science reagent supplier, offering collagen stains, antibodies, and biochemicals across every research category. Comparable as the dominant broad incumbent that supplies the same histology and collagen-research customers and could leverage scale to compete.
- Abcam (Danaher): Global antibody and reagent supplier with a deep catalog covering ECM, collagen, and fibrosis targets. Comparable as a broad incumbent serving the same research customer base with overlapping product categories and the distribution scale to challenge 3Helix's niche.
- Cell Signaling Technology: Leading antibody and reagent manufacturer for signal transduction, including fibrosis and ECM-related targets. Comparable as a broad incumbent supplying the same academic and pharma histology customers with collagen- and fibrosis-relevant research tools that could substitute for CHPs.
- Bio-Techne: Major life-science tools company encompassing R&D Systems, Novus Biologicals, and Tocris, with extensive antibody and reagent catalogs covering histology, fibrosis, and ECM research. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose portfolio overlaps 3Helix's collagen/fibrosis research applications and which could credibly develop competing collagen-damage reagents.
Emerging players
- FibroGen: Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics for fibrosis and connective tissue disorders. Comparable as an emerging player targeting the same fibrotic-disease indications (IPF, MASH) that 3Helix's bioACTIVE CHP platform is positioned to address therapeutically.
Direct peers
- Biotium: Specialty reagent developer of fluorescent dyes, viability assays, and histology stains used in similar research workflows. Comparable as a similarly sized specialty reagent vendor selling fluorescent conjugates (analogous to 3Helix's F-CHP and R-CHP) into the same academic and pharma imaging markets.
- Echelon Biosciences: Life science research reagent manufacturer focused on lipid signaling and related research tools, with a distribution footprint that overlaps 3Helix's US academic and pharma channels. Comparable as a similarly sized specialty reagent vendor targeting niche research applications.
- CollPlant (formerly Collagen Solutions): Develops recombinant human collagen and bioengineered ECM products for research and medical applications. Comparable because it operates in the collagen-targeted regenerative and research market with overlapping customers in fibrosis and tissue-repair research.
- Advanced BioMatrix: Specializes in collagen-based, ECM, and 3D tissue research reagents, including collagen hydrogels and scaffolds. Directly comparable because it serves the same collagen-research customer base with overlapping histology and tissue-engineering products, and is also a US distributor for 3Helix's CHP products.
Others
- Nordic BioSite: Pan-European distributor of specialty life-science research reagents. Comparable as a channel peer that aggregates and distributes niche reagents (including collagen-related products) across European academic and biotech customers that 3Helix also serves via its regional distributor network.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
3Helix social profiles
Digital presence3Helix financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
3Helix leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
3Helix funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
3Helix 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 3Helix
What does 3Helix do?
3Helix manufactures and sells Collagen Hybridizing Peptide (CHP) research reagents — short synthetic peptides that selectively bind denatured, damaged, or remodeling collagen via triple-helix reformation. The portfolio includes five labeled variants (F-CHP, B-CHP, R-CHP, In Vivo CHP, Auto-CHP) used by academic, pharmaceutical, and biotech researchers in histopathology, fibrosis, cancer, cardiovascular, and in vivo imaging studies. The company is also developing a bioACTIVE CHP platform that combines collagen-targeting with therapeutic payload delivery.
Is 3Helix a public or private company?
3Helix is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was 3Helix founded?
3Helix was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is 3Helix based?
3Helix is headquartered in Salt Lake City, United States, in the North America region.
How does 3Helix make money?
One revenue line is on record: research Reagent Sales.
Who are 3Helix's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Sigma-Aldrich (Merck KGaA Life Science), Abcam (Danaher), Cell Signaling Technology and Bio-Techne. FibroGen is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Biotium, Echelon Biosciences, CollPlant (formerly Collagen Solutions) and Advanced BioMatrix. Nordic BioSite is listed as an others.
Does 3Helix have an API?
No public API is recorded for 3Helix.
What industry is 3Helix in?
3Helix's product category is Life Science Research Reagents. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAAAH, Therapeutic Peptides & Protein/Peptide Biologics, with a secondary code of HLAAAIAC, Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization). Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.