What Lovelace Biomedical does

Lovelace Biomedical is a not-for-profit preclinical contract research organization (CRO) headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, providing GLP-compliant laboratory services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, federal agencies, and academic institutions. The organization was established as a standalone commercial entity in 2016, emerging from the Lovelace Family of Companies and the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute (founded in the 1940s-1950s), bringing nearly seven decades of specialized respiratory science into a client-driven business. Its service portfolio spans the preclinical development workflow — including toxicology, pharmacology, bioanalytical and analytical chemistry, formulation development, and pharmacokinetics/toxicokinetics — with specialty expertise areas in respiratory, infectious disease, gene therapy, neuroscience, medical countermeasures, alternative tobacco/cannabis products, animal health, and agrochemicals.

Core technical capabilities are anchored in a 100+ acre campus with 300,000 square feet of laboratory space, 90+ animal rooms, and over 10,000 square feet of ABSL3-enhanced high-containment laboratory space. The platform supports multi-species studies (rodents, rabbits, ferrets, and non-human primates), including ETS 123-compliant European-style primate housing that can house 600-800 nonhuman primates in social groups. Specialized infrastructure includes nose-only inhalation exposure systems, aerosol drug delivery platforms, GLP-compliant qPCR biodistribution capability for gene and cell therapy work, and an expanded LCMS-based bioanalytical chemistry platform with UPLC upgrades and robotic sample handling. The facility carries AAALAC accreditation (since 1970), USDA Class R registration, and operates under FDA Good Laboratory Practice (21 CFR Part 58) with onsite Quality Assurance units.

Lovelace generates revenue through project-based preclinical service contracts on a quote-based, professional services pricing model. Named commercial customers include Novartis, Gilead Sciences, miRagen Therapeutics, and a 15-year relationship with Capsugel on aerosol drug formulations; federal customers include BARDA (radiation medical countermeasures) and the National Institutes of Health (including over $10M in 2023 grants for opioid overdose research and an NHLBI Gene Therapy Resource Program core lab designation). Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales via regional business development representatives (East Coast and West Coast), active participation in scientific conferences (Society of Toxicology, ASM Microbe, ISAM), and thought-leadership content. As a not-for-profit, the organization emphasizes reinvestment in basic science and capital-intensive infrastructure rather than shareholder returns.

Name

Lovelace Biomedical

Legal name

Lovelace Biomedical

Website

https://lovelacebiomedical.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Lovelace Biomedical is a not-for-profit preclinical contract research organization providing GLP-compliant toxicology, pharmacology, bioanalytical chemistry, formulation, and PK/TK services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and federal customers from a 300,000-square-foot ABSL3-equipped Albuquerque campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Preclinical Contract Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Toxicology & Safety Assessment CROs (GLP) (HLAGAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

In Vivo Pharmacology (Efficacy/PD Models) (HLAGAFAA), Livestock & Production Animal Therapeutics (Rx) (HLAMAEAB)

Keywords

• Preclinical contract research
• GLP toxicology services
• Inhalation drug delivery
• Bioanalytical chemistry services
• ABSL3 laboratory research

Headquarters

HQ city

Albuquerque

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Research Services: Lovelace Biomedical generates revenue through preclinical contract research services provided to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Services include toxicology studies, pharmacology, bioanalytical chemistry, formulation development, pharmacokinetics/toxicokinetics, and specialized studies in respiratory, infectious disease, gene therapy, and other therapeutic areas. Revenue is project-based, varying by study complexity, duration, and scope.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lovelace Biomedical is a not-for-profit preclinical contract research organization (CRO) that conducts GLP-compliant toxicology, pharmacology, bioanalytical/analytical chemistry, formulation, pharmacokinetics/toxicokinetics, and colony maintenance studies for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The work spans specialty therapeutic areas including respiratory and inhalation drug delivery, infectious disease, gene therapy, neuroscience, medical countermeasures, alternative tobacco/cannabis products, and animal health, supported by over 90 animal rooms, ABSL3 containment, and advanced mass spectrometry capabilities.

Product overview

Lovelace Biomedical is a not-for-profit preclinical contract research organization (CRO) offering an integrated suite of laboratory services for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The portfolio includes core services such as Toxicology (preclinical GLP toxicology studies), Bioanalytical/Analytical Chemistry, Formulation (aerosol and spray-dried formulations), Pharmacokinetics/Toxicokinetics, Pharmacology, Colony Maintenance, and Agrochemicals/Commodity Chemicals evaluation. These are complemented by specialty expertise areas: Respiratory (inhalation drug delivery, pulmonary fibrosis), Infectious Disease (ABSL3/BSL2 capabilities), Gene Therapy (biodistribution, AAV vectors), Neuroscience (neurobehavioral, EEG, Alzheimer's canine models), Alternative Tobacco & Cannabis Products, Medical Countermeasures (CBRN threats under FDA Animal Rule), and Animal Health. The organization operates from a 300,000+ square foot bio-secure facility in Albuquerque, NM, offering GLP-compliant studies across multiple species (rodents, rabbits, ferrets, non-human primates) and the ability to conduct IND/NDA-enabling programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Toxicology Services Preclinical GLP-compliant toxicology studies evaluating potential adverse effects of drug candidates in animal models, including local and systemic toxicity assessments, inhalation toxicology, and genetic toxicology, designed to support regulatory submissions for pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors.
• Bioanalytical / Analytical Chemistry Services GLP bioanalytical chemistry, analytical chemistry, mass spectrometry, metabolite identification, and bioanalytical method development for small and large molecules to quantify drug distribution, exposure, and pharmacokinetic parameters in preclinical samples.
• Formulation Services Development of aerosol formulations, spray-dried powders, and drug delivery systems including liquid and dry powder formulations for inhalation, designed for pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors of pulmonary and respiratory therapeutics.
• Pharmacokinetics / Toxicokinetics Services PK/TK studies evaluating drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) in preclinical models to characterize exposure-response relationships for investigational compounds.
• Pharmacology Services Preclinical pharmacology studies including animal models of disease, efficacy testing, and pharmacodynamic assessments for pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors evaluating investigational compounds.
• Colony Maintenance Services Centralized breeding and maintenance of mouse colonies for juvenile genetic disease models and specialized animal colonies maintained at Lovelace's bio-secure facility for ongoing research programs.
• Respiratory Specialty Expertise Specialized capabilities in respiratory disease research including inhalation drug delivery, pulmonary fibrosis models, and asthma/COPD studies, leveraging decades of respiratory and inhalation science experience.
• Infectious Disease Specialty Expertise Research capabilities for evaluating vaccines, antivirals, and therapeutics against infectious diseases using ABSL3-enhanced and BSL2 high-containment facilities and specialized animal models.
• Gene Therapy Specialty Expertise Preclinical evaluation of gene therapy products including biodistribution studies, immunogenicity assessment, AAV vector testing, and qPCR-based vector shedding analysis to support IND-enabling submissions.
• Neuroscience Specialty Expertise Neurobehavioral endpoints, neurological evaluation (EEG), and preclinical models for neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's using canine models.
• Medical Countermeasures Specialty Expertise Development and testing of medical countermeasures against CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) threats under the FDA Animal Efficacy Rule for federal sponsors including BARDA.
• Animal Health Specialty Expertise Veterinary research services and animal health studies supporting pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients developing veterinary therapeutics and animal health products.
• Alternative Tobacco and Cannabis Products Specialty Expertise Evaluation of e-cigarettes, vaping products, and cannabis-derived therapeutics for safety and efficacy in regulated preclinical study designs.
• Agrochemicals and Commodity Chemicals Services Evaluation of agrochemicals and commodity chemicals to support product registration, including REACH and OECD compliance, inhalation exposures, and risk assessment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Completed over $10M in NIH-funded grants and contracts for opioid overdose research
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 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 notable and core.

• NovartisnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerLovelace Biomedical collaborated with Novartis on research to understand why people may cough after taking an inhaled drug. The study investigated how cough response differs in response to the acidity of the inhaled formulation using guinea pig models. Results were published in the American Journal of Advanced Drug Delivery.
• CapsugelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner15-year collaboration between Lovelace scientists and Capsugel engineers on aerosol drug formulations using spray-drying and encapsulation technologies. Lovelace provided in vivo models for pharmacology, pharmacokinetic and toxicology assessment of various agents including Exubera insulin, novel insulin formulations, and PYY appetite suppression formulations.
• miRagen TherapeuticsnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to test preclinical safety and feasibility of an inhaled version of miRagen's drug candidate MRG-201 for pulmonary fibrosis using Lovelace's nose-only inhalation exposure system. Study demonstrated high lung tissue exposure with minimal systemic distribution.
• Gilead SciencesnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiscovery collaboration on GS-7682 for RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) therapeutics within respiratory health research area.
• BARDA (Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContract work under BARDA to conduct advanced preclinical research defining animal models for radiation injury. Lovelace is one of few U.S. facilities with tools, expertise and facility to conduct specialized radiation research including rare radioisotopes and isotopes used as therapies and diagnostics.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple grant funding including over $10M for opioid overdose research countermeasures. Lovelace serves as NHLBI Gene Therapy Resource Program core lab for toxicology and pharmacology, supporting the development of gene therapies for various diseases.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IIT Research Institute (IITRI): IITRI is a not-for-profit preclinical CRO offering toxicology, pharmacology, and pathology services from a Chicago facility. Highly comparable given the shared non-profit structure, GLP toxicology focus, and similar therapeutic area breadth, making it the closest analog to Lovelace's positioning.
• Inotiv: Inotiv is a mid-size preclinical CRO providing toxicology, safety assessment, and research models with particular strength in inhalation and device safety. It is a direct competitor in Lovelace's core toxicology and inhalation lanes, particularly for device and combination product sponsors.
• Frontage Laboratories: Frontage provides preclinical and bioanalytical CRO services with strong capabilities in safety assessment, bioanalytical chemistry, and gene therapy. It is comparable to Lovelace in the bioanalytical and integrated preclinical services mix and increasingly competitive on inhalation work.
• Altasciences: Altasciences is a mid-size CRO offering preclinical safety, bioanalysis, formulation, and clinical pharmacology services with a North American footprint. It is a close peer given overlapping service lines in toxicology, formulation, and bioanalytical chemistry that often compete for the same mid-cap pharma clients.
• Battelle Memorial Institute: Battelle is a large not-for-profit research organization with significant GLP preclinical toxicology, biodefense, and inhalation research capabilities. It is highly comparable to Lovelace on biodefense/medical countermeasures work and inhalation toxicology given its non-profit structure and federal contract base.

Broad incumbents

• Charles River Laboratories: Charles River is the largest dedicated preclinical CRO globally, offering GLP toxicology, safety assessment, and research models across multiple continents. It competes directly with Lovelace on inhalation, gene therapy, and general toxicology but at significantly greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Labcorp Drug Development (Covance): Labcorp Drug Development operates one of the largest global preclinical and clinical CRO footprints. It competes with Lovelace on GLP toxicology and bioanalytical chemistry but typically at much larger scale and with bundled clinical offerings.
• WuXi AppTec: WuXi AppTec offers global preclinical safety assessment, bioanalytical, and biologics testing services. It competes with Lovelace for US-based preclinical work, particularly from biotech sponsors seeking cost-efficient toxicology and bioanalytical capacity.
• Eurofins Scientific: Eurofins operates a global network of preclinical, bioanalytical, and central laboratory testing facilities. Its discovery and safety assessment services overlap with Lovelace's toxicology, bioanalytical, and inhalation assessment offerings.

Regional players

• Sequani: Sequani is a UK-based preclinical CRO specializing in toxicology, safety assessment, and regulatory studies for pharma clients. It does not directly compete in the US market but offers comparable GLP toxicology and inhalation capabilities for sponsors seeking European preclinical capacity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LovelaceBio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lovelace-biomedical

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 Lovelace Biomedical