Axis Bio

What Axis Bio does

Axis Bio, operating legally as Axis Bioservices Limited, is a preclinical contract research organisation founded in late 2013 in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, by Dr Jenny Worthington (Director of Science) and Catherine Maguire (Director of Business and Operations). The company specialises in oncology, respiratory disease, and inflammation research, providing bespoke preclinical efficacy and safety studies for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic research groups, and virtual/semi-virtual drug developers across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and North America.

The service portfolio spans in vitro functional immuno-oncology assays (proliferation, migration, cytokine profiling, immune cell-mediated killing, exhaustion), in vivo efficacy models including xenograft and syngeneic tumour models validated against standard-of-care and checkpoint inhibitors across eight cancer indications, and respiratory and inflammation disease models covering IPF, COPD, asthma, and acute inflammatory responses. Underlying capabilities include PKPD studies, flow cytometry/FACS analysis, histology with digital quantification, ELISA, Western blotting, and real-time PCR, supported by a proprietary collection of luciferase-expressing cell lines for orthotopic implantation and biophotonic metastatic imaging. The company is part of the QIMA Life Sciences group, which provides adjacent capabilities through sister entities in France and Germany.

Axis Bio operates a project-based, quote-driven professional services model with milestone-based payment structures (50/50 for short projects up to 40/40/20 for longer 16-week engagements) and direct B2B sales to enterprise pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic clients. Go-to-market is relationship-driven, supported by published client testimonials, factsheets, and a LinkedIn presence, with strategic partnerships including a role in the £2.6 million Swansea University-led CEAT consortium for ovarian cancer therapeutics and a technical alliance with Sygnature Discovery for PKPD dose prediction modelling.

Name

Axis Bio

Legal name

Axis Bioservices Limited

Website

https://axisbio.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Preclinical Contract Research

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Preclinical contract research
• Oncology efficacy studies
• Respiratory disease models
• Inflammation research services
• In vivo pharmacology

Headquarters

HQ city

Coleraine

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Research Services: Preclinical contract research organisation providing bespoke project-based services. Revenue generated through project fees structured around milestone-based payments tied to project completion stages. The Terms and Conditions outline payment schedules ranging from 50% initial payment with 50% on completion for short projects, to 40/40/20 split across milestones for longer 16-week projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Axis Bio is a preclinical contract research organization (CRO) that provides bespoke in vitro and in vivo efficacy testing services for pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients. Its offerings span oncology (xenograft, syngeneic, and immuno-oncology models), respiratory disease models (IPF, COPD, asthma, acute lung damage), and inflammation models, supported by flow cytometry, PKPD studies, histology, and post-study analysis.

Product overview

Axis Bio is a preclinical contract research organization (CRO) offering a unified service portfolio focused on oncology, respiratory diseases, and inflammation research. The company provides integrated preclinical efficacy testing services ranging from in vitro assays to in vivo studies, including specialized capabilities in flow cytometry and post-study analysis. Services include Cell Biology, PKPD studies, Efficacy Studies (xenograft and syngeneic models), Syngeneic Models, Post Study Analysis (complete blood counts, ELISA, Western blotting, Real Time PCR, FACS, histology), Respiratory Models (IPF, COPD, asthma, acute lung damage), Inflammation Models (paw edema, ear edema, air pouch), and In Vitro Immuno-oncology Assays.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Oncology Services Preclinical oncology research services for pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients, covering in vitro measures of compound efficacy through to in vivo mechanistic studies, including xenograft and syngeneic models validated against standard-of-care and checkpoint inhibitor agents.
• Respiratory Services Preclinical respiratory disease research services using validated models for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (bleomycin-induced), COPD/emphysema (porcine pancreatic elastase), asthma (OVA, house dust mite, cockroach allergen, Alternaria alternata), and acute lung damage (HCl-induced).
• Inflammation Services Preclinical acute inflammation services including paw edema (carrageenan-induced), ear edema (oxazolone/DNFB), and air pouch models used to screen anti-inflammatory compounds for drug discovery clients.
• In Vitro Services Functional in vitro assays for immuno-oncology testing, including proliferation, migration, activation, modulation of differentiation and cytokine profile, immune cell-mediated cancer cell killing, and exhaustion assays.
• Flow Cytometry Analysis Services Flow cytometry and FACS analysis services for immune cell sub-population profiling, supporting preclinical pharmacology and immuno-oncology studies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Paper published with data that was described as 'so much better and clearly more convincing than past studies at home institution'
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Swansea UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2019Axis Bio is a partner in the CEAT (Cluster for Epigenomic and Antibody Drug Conjugate Therapeutics) project led by Swansea University, aimed at improving ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment. Axis contributes to development of drug resistant ovarian cancer models, evaluating drugs for drug re-sensitisation, and establishing in vivo models for ADC development. The £2.6 million project received £1.2 million in ERDF funding via Welsh Government's SMART Expertise programme.
• GlaxoSmithKlinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2019Global pharmaceutical company participating as CEAT project partner alongside Axis Bio and other organisations, contributing to advances in Epigenetic and ADC based cancer therapeutics.
• GE HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2019Healthcare technologies company from Sweden participating as CEAT project partner alongside Axis Bio, contributing to advances in Epigenomic profiling for Precision Medicine.
• BrukercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2019Healthcare technologies company from USA participating as CEAT project partner alongside Axis Bio, contributing to advances in Epigenomic profiling for Precision Medicine.
• Porvair SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2019UK-based partner in CEAT project focused on epigenetic technologies, co-developed with Swansea University.
• QIMA Life SciencescoreOthersAxis Bio is a QIMA Life Sciences Company. Under this umbrella, services can be provided by one or more QIMA Life Sciences entities including: QIMA Bioalternatives SAS (France - cellular and molecular pharmacology), QIMA Newtone SAS (France - image processing for clinical evaluation), QIMA Monasterium GmbH (Germany - preclinical and clinical testing for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, nutraceutical products), QIMA Skinpharma SAS (France - dermatological research), and Oxiproteomics SAS (France - biotech solutions for longevity).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Inotiv: Preclinical CRO and research models provider offering toxicology, safety assessment, and in vivo efficacy services. Comparable to Axis Bio in offering preclinical CRO services with a focus on animal models, though Inotiv operates at significantly larger scale.
• Crown Bioscience: Preclinical CRO specializing in oncology and immuno-oncology with extensive xenograft, syngeneic, and PDX model portfolios. Directly comparable to Axis Bio's core oncology preclinical offering and represents one of the largest direct competitors in oncology-focused preclinical research.
• Sygnature Discovery: UK-based integrated drug discovery CRO with capabilities in in vitro and in vivo pharmacology. Directly comparable to Axis Bio as a UK/European preclinical CRO with overlapping oncology and inflammation expertise, and is already a confirmed Axis Bio partner via the INIVE/PKPD service offering.

Emerging players

• Taconic Biosciences: Provider of genetically engineered research models and associated preclinical research services. Comparable to Axis Bio in the in vivo model and animal research space, though Taconic's primary focus is model generation and supply rather than bespoke preclinical CRO services.
• Reaction Biology: Preclinical CRO offering in vitro and in vivo assay services including oncology and inflammation models. Comparable to Axis Bio as a smaller-scale preclinical CRO with overlapping therapeutic area focus, though with greater emphasis on biochemical and cell-based assays.
• Bionova Scientific: Preclinical CRO with capabilities in animal models, cell-based assays, and histology supporting biotherapeutic development. Comparable to Axis Bio as a smaller specialist preclinical CRO with oncology and immunology focus, though primarily US-based.

Broad incumbents

• Eurofins Discovery: Discovery and preclinical services arm of Eurofins, offering in vitro and in vivo pharmacology across multiple therapeutic areas. Comparable to Axis Bio in offering preclinical CRO services, with broader scale and more diversified therapeutic area coverage.
• WuXi AppTec: Global CRO/CDMO with extensive preclinical research services in oncology, inflammation, and respiratory disease. Comparable to Axis Bio in therapeutic focus and preclinical offerings, but at massively greater scale and with a more integrated discovery-to-manufacturing value chain.
• Pharmaron: Integrated CRO/CDMO offering preclinical pharmacology, DMPK, and safety assessment services. Comparable to Axis Bio in preclinical efficacy and PKPD capabilities, but offers a much broader end-to-end service portfolio including clinical and commercial manufacturing.
• Charles River Laboratories: Global, full-service preclinical and clinical CRO with a leading discovery and safety assessment business. Comparable as a major preclinical CRO competitor, but operates at vastly larger scale with broader service portfolio and global footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/axis-bioservices

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Axis Bio