21st Century Medicine

What 21st Century Medicine does

21st Century Medicine (21CM) is a privately held California corporation headquartered in Fontana, CA, operating from a 22,000 sq ft research center. Founded in 1999, the company has developed a vitrification-based platform technology for the cryopreservation of living systems, including cells, tissues, and whole organs. Its technology stack comprises low-toxicity cryoprotectant solutions (M22, VM3, VEG, LM5), synthetic ice-blocking agents (Supercool X-1000, Supercool Z-1000), the Aldehyde-Stabilized Cryopreservation (ASC) technique for brain ultrastructure preservation, the Controllable Isothermic Vapor Storage (CIVS) hardware system, and the Trans Send organ flushing solution. The firm claims to operate the world's only laboratory with direct focus on organ vitrification research.

21CM monetizes through a hybrid model spanning product sales, contract research services, hardware sales, and non-dilutive NIH SBIR grant funding. Cryopreservation solutions (X-1000, Z-1000, VEG, VM3) are sold in 10ml, 50ml, and 500ml units under a research-use license via phone, fax, and email (online ordering temporarily disabled), with prices ranging from $76.58 to $1,285.70. Contract research services cover experimental design, protocol development, and FDA registration of custom preservation solutions. CIVS storage units are custom-built to specification. Grant income (largest single award $1.6M from NICHD in September 2020) funds major R&D programs.

The firm serves four primary customer segments: biopharmaceutical companies needing viable tissue slices for ADME/toxicology, assisted reproductive technology providers, transplantation medicine (organ banks and transplant centers), and bio-logistics providers managing living biological inventories. Leadership comprises Dr. Gregory M. Fahy (CSO and Executive Director, 94 publications, 39 patents), Dr. Brian G. Wowk (CTO, inventor of X-1000 and CIVS), and Harvey J. Horswell (COO). Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed, and ownership appears concentrated among founders and management.

Name

21st Century Medicine

Legal name

21st Century Medicine, Inc.

Website

https://21cm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

21st Century Medicine is a private Fontana, California-based cryobiology company that develops vitrification-based cryoprotectant solutions, synthetic ice-blocking agents, organ flushing solutions, and programmable vapor storage hardware for biopharmaceutical, reproductive medicine, and transplantation customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cryopreservation Technology

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Blood and Organ Banks (621991)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Cold Chain Storage & Cryopreservation Services (LN2/Ultra-low) (HLAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cold Chain, Cryopreservation & Biologics Storage/Handling Technologies (HLAAAJAN), Sample Preparation, Storage & Cryogenics (Freezers, Cryovials, Cryostats) (HLAGAIAJ)

Keywords

• Vitrification technology
• Cryopreservation solutions
• Organ preservation
• Ice-blocking agents
• Cryoprotectant solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Fontana

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Research Services: Provides research services for custom-made biochemical solutions, protocols, and devices used for cryogenic preservation of living tissues. Services range from project design to commercial deployment, including experimental design, process development, and FDA registration of final product formulations.
2. Cryopreservation Solution Products: Sales of commercially available cryopreservation solutions including Supercool X-1000, Supercool Z-1000, VEG Cryoprotectant, and VM3 Cryoprotectant. Products sold in 10ml, 50ml, and 500ml quantities under a simple research license.
3. CIVS Storage Units: Custom-built Controllable Isothermic Vapor Storage units sold with customizable storage racks, canisters, and frames for bio-logistics applications. Includes three-year warranty on vacuum and electronics.
4. NIH SBIR Grant Funding: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants from the National Institutes of Health supporting specific research projects such as Whole Ovary Vitrification for Fertility Preservation ($1.6M grant from NIH Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

21st Century Medicine develops and commercializes a vitrification-based cryopreservation platform technology for the hypothermic preservation of cells, tissues, and organs. The company sells proprietary cryoprotectant solutions (M22, VM3, VEG), synthetic ice-blocking agents (Supercool X-1000, Supercool Z-1000), and Controllable Isothermic Vapor Storage (CIVS) systems, alongside contract research services for custom cryopreservation protocols and FDA registration support.

Product overview

21st Century Medicine offers a platform technology focused on hypothermic preservation and cryopreservation via vitrification. The core product family includes ice-blocking agents (Super cool X-1000™, Super cool Z-1000™) and cryoprotectant solutions (VEG, VM3, M22, LM5) that enable protection, preservation, and storage of living systems. Storage is supported by proprietary CIVS vapor storage systems. The company also provides contract research services for custom solution development and offers Trans Send organ flushing solution for transplantation medicine.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Supercool X-1000 Non-colligative synthetic ice blocker additive for vitrification solutions that stops early stages of ice growth during cooling or rewarming at concentrations as low as 0.1%. Targets heterogeneous nucleators at vastly reduced cost compared to antifreeze proteins and has been applied to vitrification of systems ranging from rabbit kidneys to Lilly apical meristems. Sold to research institutions and biotechnology researchers.
• Supercool Z-1000 Non-colligative synthetic ice blocker that specifically binds and inactivates bacterial ice nucleating proteins, addressing ubiquitous environmental contamination that generic ice blockers cannot address. Best used in combination with X-1000 to eliminate residual heterogeneous ice nucleation events in vitrification solutions. Sold in 10ml, 50ml, and 500ml quantities to research customers.
• VEG Cryoprotectant Low-toxicity cryoprotective formula designed for successful vitrification of living systems, used at 52-57% w/v final working concentrations. Parent formula for a wide family of vitrification solutions. Demonstrated 100% recovery of mammalian tissue slice membrane ion transport function compared to untreated control tissue. Sold to biopharmaceutical, reproductive, and transplantation researchers.
• VM3 Cryoprotectant Low-toxicity formula extraordinarily stable against ice formation, ideal for vitrifying both individual cells and large tissues. Total concentration 65.11% w/v, combining X-1000, Z-1000, and Supercool PVP ice blockers. Achieved 80% of untreated control efficiency for unfertilized mouse ova vitrification and 93-107% recovery of tissue slice membrane ion transport function. Sold to research customers.
• M22 Vitrification Solution 21CM's flagship organ vitrification solution that does not freeze even during extremely slow cooling and rewarming. Can be perfused through kidneys with subsequent uniform life support after transplantation. Incorporates features that greatly mitigate chilling injury in mammalian kidneys, enabling recovery after cooling to -45°C and rewarming. Based on the proprietary DFE series of cryoprotectant solutions. Targeted at transplantation medicine and organ banking researchers.
• LM5 Carrier Solution Carrier solution that maximizes effectiveness of X-1000 and Z-1000 ice blockers while maintaining good physiological preservation of whole organs and contributing to glass-forming ability. Used in conjunction with 21CM's organ vitrification protocols. Targeted at transplantation researchers.
• CIVS (Controllable Isothermic Vapor Storage) Units Custom-built programmable storage units for liquid nitrogen vapor storage without direct LN2 contact. Eliminates sample cross-contamination, temperature excursions, and fracture stress from conventional LN2 storage. Features auto-fill, auto-monitoring, narrow temperature control, low power requirements, no external environmental control needed, computer interface capability, and three-year warranty on vacuum and electronics. Customized to customer specifications with customizable storage racks, canisters, and frames for bio-logistics applications.
• Trans Send Organ Flushing Solution Organ flushing solution developed as an alternative to UW (ViaSpan) solution. Displaces blood rapidly, is less viscous, is made from less expensive ingredients, and contains only body-safe ingredients requiring no flushing before transplant. Targeted at transplant centers and organ procurement organizations.
• Contract Research Services Full-service biomedical research including experimental design, protocol development, FDA registration, process documentation, and manufacturing assessment for custom preservation solutions and devices. Services range from project design to commercial deployment for biopharmaceutical companies, transplantation researchers, and reproductive technology companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Kidney preservation extended from 4-36 hours to potential multi-day banking
• +6 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Brain Preservation FoundationcoreOthersAwarded 21CM the Small Mammal Brain Preservation Prize (~$27,000, 2016) for rabbit brain preservation and the Large Mammal Brain Preservation Prize ($80,000, 2018) for pig brain preservation. Both prizes were based on independent evaluation of aldehyde-stabilized cryopreservation (ASC) technique demonstrating comprehensive brain ultrastructure and connectome preservation.
• University of Colorado (Collaborators on Best Paper Award)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative study with University of Colorado investigators won the 2020 Arthur W. Rowe Best Paper Award from the Society for Cryobiology for the paper 'Genetic Suppression of Cryoprotectant Toxicity'. The collaboration used forward genetics to identify biochemical pathways contributing to cryoprotectant toxicity and ways to suppress them.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Biolife Solutions: Public supplier of cryopreservation media and storage tools for cell therapy, regenerative medicine, and biopharma. Closely comparable to 21CM in cryoprotectant chemistry and target buyer segments, with broader commercial reach.
• Cryoport Systems: Provider of temperature-controlled cold-chain logistics and cryogenic storage for life sciences, reproductive medicine, and animal health. Comparable to 21CM's CIVS storage and bio-logistics offerings.
• Organ Recovery Systems: Provider of organ preservation solutions and perfusion devices for transplantation. Direct overlap with 21CM's Trans Send organ flushing solution and transplantation medicine segment.

Emerging players

• TMRW Life Sciences: Automated cryostorage platform for reproductive cells (IVF). Comparable to 21CM's ART and cryopreservation services focus, with a more consumer/ART-centric approach.
• TransMedics: Developer of organ care systems that maintain donor organs in a warm, functioning state. Adjacent to 21CM's organ preservation thesis, competing on a non-cryogenic approach to the same transplantation bottleneck.

Regional players

• Hamilton Thorne: Supplier of precision instruments and consumables for the ART and reproductive medicine markets. Adjacent to 21CM's IVF/ART vitrification chemistry applications.
• Xytex Research: Sperm bank and reproductive tissue storage provider. Dr. Fahy is listed on its Board of Directors, reflecting direct ecosystem overlap with 21CM's ART applications.

Broad incumbents

• Chart Industries (MVE Cryogenics): Industrial cryogenic equipment manufacturer including LN2 storage freezers used in life sciences. Comparable to 21CM's CIVS storage units at a much larger scale and broader industrial footprint.
• VWR/Avantor: Global distributor of laboratory chemicals, consumables, and cryopreservation products to biopharma and academic customers. Comparable channel overlap with 21CM's research-supply distribution model.
• Cytiva: Large life sciences tools provider offering bioprocessing, cell therapy, and cryopreservation solutions. Comparable to 21CM at the customer overlap level for biopharma ADME/toxicology and cell therapy applications.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/215893

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 21st Century Medicine