Protein Alternatives

What Protein Alternatives does

Protein Alternatives S.L. (ProAlt) is a Spanish private biotechnology company founded in 2006 and headquartered in Tres Cantos (Madrid) that develops diagnostics and therapeutics for cancer, with a secondary pivot into veterinary vaccines. Its R&D platform rests on monoclonal and recombinant antibody technologies, multi-host protein expression (bacterial, insect/Sf9, mammalian/CHO), scFv immune-library phage display, and biomarker-based diagnostic assay development. The therapeutic pipeline is anchored by two lead candidates targeting metastatic colorectal cancer — PA-661, a first-in-class anti-CDH17-RGD antibody that has completed humanization and is advancing toward Phase I, and PA-554, an anti-IL13Rα2 antibody — plus a novel CDH17-LGR5 bispecific program addressing tumor heterogeneity. The diagnostics franchise is built around COLOPROOF, a 6-biomarker FFPE tissue prognostic test for recurrence risk stratification in stage II/III CRC.

The company monetizes across four revenue streams: (1) one-time catalog sales of recombinant proteins, monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, and ELISA immunoassays priced from €69 to €5,410 via its own e-commerce shop to a global academic and industrial research base; (2) custom contract research services covering protein design/expression, monoclonal and polyclonal antibody production, and recombinant antibody technologies on a quote basis; (3) out-licensing of therapeutic antibody candidates (PA-661, PA-554) to pharmaceutical partners with associated milestone/royalty potential; and (4) future commercialization of COLOPROOF and the DIVA subunit vaccine against EHDV in cattle. Go-to-market is sales-led and B2B, combining direct enterprise engagement for licensing and custom services, conference presence (BIO, MEDICA, EIC Investor Day, South Summit), and self-service e-commerce for catalog SKUs.

Protein Alternatives has historically been funded by non-dilutive public grants rather than venture capital — including an H2020 SME Instrument Phase 2 award in October 2015 (cited at €5.4 million contract value for COLODETECT), multiple CDTI/ISCIII/MICIN/Community of Madrid grants, and a 2025 CDTI/European Recovery Facility grant for DIVAVACEHD. The company recently expanded its Scientific Advisory Board with leading GI oncology KOLs and returned Hugo Cartagena as COO, while opening a ProAlt USA office at One Broadway, Cambridge, MA.

Name

Protein Alternatives

Legal name

PROTEIN ALTERNATIVES, S.L.

Website

https://proteinalternatives.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Protein Alternatives (ProAlt) is a Spanish private biotech developing monoclonal antibody therapeutics (PA-661, PA-554, CDH17-LGR5 bispecific) and the COLOPROOF diagnostic for metastatic colorectal cancer, while also selling recombinant proteins, antibodies, custom services, and a DIVA vaccine for EHDV in cattle.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Therapeutics and Diagnostics

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Antibody Discovery & Engineering Platforms (display tech, bispecifics, Fc engineering) (HLAAAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bispecific & Multispecific Antibodies (HLAAAAAF), Oncology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAA), Therapeutic Vaccines (e.g., Cancer/Chronic Infection) (HLAIAEAG)

Keywords

• Recombinant protein production
• Monoclonal antibody development
• Cancer diagnostic assays
• Therapeutic antibody discovery
• Contract research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Products (Recombinant Proteins, Antibodies): Sale of catalog recombinant proteins, monoclonal antibodies, and polyclonal antibodies to research institutions and pharmaceutical companies worldwide through e-commerce shop.
2. Custom Contract Research Services: Contract research, development and manufacturing services for protein design, expression, purification, and antibody production. Services include recombinant proteins in bacteria/insect cells/mammalian platforms, monoclonal antibody production in mice, polyclonal antibodies in rabbit/mouse, and recombinant antibody technologies including scFv library construction and phage display screening.
3. Therapeutic Drug Development Licensing: Development and licensing of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (PA-661, PA-554) for cancer treatment to pharmaceutical partners.
4. Diagnostic Test Commercialization: COLOPROOF diagnostic test for colorectal cancer prognosis and treatment guidance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Protein Alternatives develops and sells therapeutic monoclonal antibody candidates (PA-661, PA-554, CDH17-LGR5 bispecific) for metastatic colorectal cancer, the COLOPROOF gene-expression prognostic diagnostic, and a catalogue of research-use recombinant proteins, monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal antibodies, and ELISA immunoassays. It also provides contract research and manufacturing services for custom recombinant protein design/expression/purification and antibody production across bacterial, insect, and mammalian platforms. Revenue is generated through catalogue product sales, fee-for-service contracts, and licensing of therapeutic candidates to pharmaceutical partners.

Product overview

Protein Alternatives (ProAlt) operates as a biotechnological company offering a diversified portfolio spanning therapeutics, diagnostics, custom services, and research-use products. The therapeutics division advances three antibody programs: PA-661 (lead candidate, anti-CDH17-RGD for metastatic colorectal cancer), PA-554 (anti-IL13Ra2 for mCRC), and a novel CDH17-LGR5 bispecific antibody program. The diagnostics division provides COLOPROOF, a gene expression-based prognostic test for colorectal cancer recurrence risk stratification. Research products include recombinant proteins, monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies sold through a catalog/shop platform. Custom services encompass recombinant protein design/expression/purification, antibody production, and recombinant antibody technologies using phage display. The veterinary division develops DIVA vaccines using CRISBIO technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PA-661 (anti-CDH17-RGD monoclonal antibody) Therapeutic monoclonal antibody directed against the Cadherin 17-RGD (CDH17-RGD) motif, designed to inhibit β1 integrin activation and prevent metastasis progression in advanced metastatic colorectal cancer. Demonstrated first-in-class potential with in vivo efficacy: avoided liver metastasis formation in 100% of treated animals and delayed metastasis progression in all treated animals in validated mCRC models. Licensed/out-licensed to pharmaceutical partners.
• PA-554 (anti-IL13Rα2 monoclonal antibody) Monoclonal antibody (PA-554) targeting the IL13/IL13Rα2 ligand-receptor interface to inhibit cell migration and invasion in metastatic colorectal cancer. In vivo studies showed protection against IL13Rα2-positive differentiated liver metastasis including established metastasis in aggressive mCRC models. Developed as a therapeutic candidate for licensing to pharmaceutical partners.
• CDH17-LGR5 Bispecific Antibody Program Proprietary bispecific antibody program targeting CDH17 and LGR5, designed to address tumor heterogeneity and treatment resistance in metastatic colorectal cancer. Developed as a first-in-class therapeutic approach with broad IP coverage.
• COLOPROOF (Gene Expression Prognostic Test) In vitro diagnostic test that uses a 6-biomarker gene expression signature from FFPE colorectal cancer tissue to assess risk of recurrence and guide chemotherapy decisions in stage II and III colorectal cancer patients. Designed to provide prognostic and predictive capacity for recurrence stratification.
• Recombinant Proteins (catalogue) Catalogue of research-use recombinant proteins including cytokines, growth factors, kinases, and cancer-related biomarkers. Available in multiple expression systems and tag formats. Sold via proteinalternatives.com online shop with prices ranging €69–€5,410.
• Monoclonal Antibodies (catalogue) Catalogue of mouse monoclonal antibodies targeting cancer-related proteins including ANXA4, BMP4, EFNB2, FGF2, GM2AP, GSN, KAL1, LCN2, and NR1H4, sold for research use with prices ranging €229–€1,240.
• Polyclonal Antibodies (catalogue) Catalogue of rabbit polyclonal antibodies targeting Annexin family proteins (ANXA1–6, ANXA9, ANXA10), FGF2, GM2AP, GSN, and KAL1 for research use, priced €206–€1,050.
• ELISA Immunoassays ELISA-based immunoassay products for research and clinical research applications, sold via the online catalogue.
• Custom Recombinant Protein Services Contract research services for custom recombinant protein design, codon optimization, gene synthesis, cloning, expression, and purification across bacterial, insect cell (baculovirus), and mammalian cell platforms. Engagements are quote-based and contracted directly with the ProAlt scientific team.
• Custom Monoclonal Antibody Services Custom monoclonal antibody production services in mouse, and ELISA design and development in indirect and sandwich formats, contracted directly with ProAlt's experts.
• Custom Polyclonal Antibody Services Custom polyclonal antibody production services in rabbit and mouse for research applications, contracted directly with ProAlt.
• Recombinant Antibody Technologies Recombinant antibody technology services covering construction of immune scFv libraries, phage display library screening, recombinant antibody production, and functional validation, delivered through direct engagement with the ProAlt scientific team.
• EHDV DIVA Subunit Vaccine (DIVAVACEHD project) Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals (DIVA) subunit vaccine targeting Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (EHDV) serotype 8 in cattle, leveraging ALGENEX CrisBio baculovirus-based antigen production, with PROALT contributing monoclonal antibodies and analytical tools for vaccine quality and efficacy, BIOGÉNESIS BAGÓ handling formulation and clinical trials, and CISA-INIA/CSIC conducting immune response studies.

Quantifiable outcome

• PA-661 (anti-CDH17-RGD) delayed metastasis progression in all treated animals and avoided metastasis formation in 50% of treated individuals in validated metastatic CRC mouse model
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MerckcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Selected by EIC Business Acceleration Services to present therapeutic antibody PA-0661 to Merck at EIC Corporate Day. One of 16 companies selected from 10 countries.
• CIB (CSIC) - Centro de Investigaciones BiológicascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Strategic partner for COLOPROOF diagnostic development. Provides research collaboration for colorectal cancer biomarker identification and validation.
• Hospital Ramón y CajalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Strategic partner providing clinical validation and translational research for COLOPROOF diagnostic test. Dr. Alfredo Carrato serves as Director of Translational Research Group at IRYCIS.
• ALGENEXcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025ALGENEX leads production of EHDV vaccine antigen using proprietary CrisBio technology and optimization of manufacturing processes at industrial scale for the DIVAVACEHD project. PROALT develops monoclonal antibodies and analytical tools to ensure vaccine quality and efficacy.
• BIOGÉNESIS BAGÓcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Expert in vaccine formulation and validation, responsible for clinical trials, formulation optimization, and preparation of regulatory dossier for EMA approval in DIVAVACEHD project.
• LABORATORIOS FARMALANcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Guarantees product stability and packaging under GMP standards for DIVAVACEHD vaccine project.
• CISA-INIAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Leads immune response and virus neutralization studies, providing essential data for clinical trials in DIVAVACEHD project.
• CSIC (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Conducts immune response and virus neutralization studies. Dr. Ignacio Casal serves as CSIC Researcher and Founder of Protein Alternatives.
• CIC bioGUNEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Conducts advanced structural studies using cryo-electron microscopy to ensure correct antigenic conformation and interaction with neutralizing antibodies for DIVAVACEHD project.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MorphoSys: Antibody-focused biotech developing oncology therapeutics (e.g., tafasitamab); comparable to ProAlt's therapeutic antibody pipeline targeting hematology/oncology indications.
• Abcam: Research-use antibody specialist with a global catalog of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies; overlaps directly with ProAlt's antibody catalog and custom services offerings.
• GenScript: Offers custom recombinant protein and antibody services plus catalog research reagents, closely mirroring ProAlt's dual services + catalog model. Both operate globally to pharma, biotech, and academic customers.
• Molecular Partners: Clinical-stage biotech engineering multispecific/bispecific antibody candidates for oncology; directly comparable to ProAlt's CDH17-LGR5 bispecific program and broader antibody engineering approach.

Broad incumbents

• Bio-Techne: Large life-sciences tools company selling recombinant proteins, antibodies, and ELISA assays through a catalog model similar to ProAlt's research-products and diagnostics business. Comparable on product breadth and direct e-commerce GTM.
• Argenx: Late-stage antibody biotech (efgartigimod/VYVGART) with a broad immunology and oncology pipeline; serves as a benchmark for the value-creation arc an antibody-discovery platform can achieve.
• Genmab: Mature antibody therapeutics company with multiple approved products (e.g., daratumumab) and a robust pipeline; comparable therapeutic modality (mAbs/bispecifics) to ProAlt's pipeline.

Regional players

• Nordic Biosite: European distributor of research reagents, proteins, and antibodies; comparable catalog-distribution function though focused on resale rather than in-house production like ProAlt.

Emerging players

• ATUM (formerly DNA2.0): Protein engineering and expression services provider serving biotech customers; overlaps with ProAlt's custom recombinant protein and antibody service offerings.
• OncoOne: European preclinical-stage biotech developing antibody-based therapeutics targeting tumor-associated antigens; similar stage and indication focus (solid tumors) to ProAlt.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ProAlt2006
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/5124980

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Protein Alternatives