Cytes Biotechnologies
Cytes Biotechnologies (BeCytes) is a Barcelona-based biotech founded in 2015 that supplies primary human and animal liver cells, hepatocytes, culture media, and ethical tissue sourcing for drug metabolism and preclinical research, acquired by BioIVT in 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersBarcelona, Spain
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cytes Biotechnologies does
Cytes Biotechnologies S.L., operating commercially as BeCytes Biotechnologies, is a Barcelona-based biotechnology company founded in 2015 that specializes in primary liver cells and ethical tissue sourcing for biomedical research. Its core technology encompasses isolation, cryopreservation, and culture of human and animal hepatic cells, delivered across fresh, plateable, and suspension formats. The company is headquartered within the Parc Científic de Barcelona and has historically operated from a single Spanish site, with international development supported by Spain's ICEX Export Initiation Program and European FEDER co-financing.
The company's product portfolio centers on Primary Human Hepatocytes (fresh, cryopreserved plateable, and suspension formats) and Primary Human Non-Parenchymal Cells (including Kupffer cells, hepatic stellate cells, and sinusoidal endothelial cells), complemented by animal-derived hepatic cells, specialized culture media, and two service lines: a Tissue Sourcing platform that coordinates compliant access to human biospecimens, and a Preclinical CRO service providing scientific guidance and in vitro validation for novel healthcare and technology products.
Cytes generates revenue primarily through one-time catalog sales of cell products and media to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies (its primary segment), with secondary revenue from contract research services sold to CROs and academic/research institutions. GTM is sales-led with a direct model, supplemented by a website, content marketing via a blog, social media, and participation in industry events such as the Bio International Convention. In 2026, the company was acquired by BioIVT, a global biospecimen supplier, and now operates under that umbrella with contact and identity redirected to bioivt.com. No pricing, revenue, headcount, or funding figures are publicly disclosed.
Cytes Biotechnologies firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cytes Biotechnologies
- Legal name
- Cytes Biotechnologies S.L.
- Website
- https://cytesbiotechnologies.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Short description
- Cytes Biotechnologies (BeCytes) is a Barcelona-based biotech founded in 2015 that supplies primary human and animal liver cells, hepatocytes, culture media, and ethical tissue sourcing for drug metabolism and preclinical research, acquired by BioIVT in 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cytes Biotechnologies industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biospecimens & Preclinical Research Services
- 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
- Sample Logistics, Biorepository & IVD Kit Management (Trial Support) (HLAGAEAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sample Preparation, Storage & Cryogenics (Freezers, Cryovials, Cryostats) (HLAGAIAJ), In Vitro Model Systems & Organoid Platforms (iPSC/organoids, microphysiological systems) (HLAAAIAJ)
Keywords
Where Cytes Biotechnologies is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Barcelona
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cytes Biotechnologies business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Primary Liver Cell Products: Sale of fresh, cryopreserved, and plateable human and animal hepatic cells including primary human hepatocytes, non-parenchymal cells, and animal cells
- Culture Media Products: Sale of specialized cell culture media formulations for liver cell applications
- Tissue Sourcing Services: Coordinating human tissue procurement for biomedical research purposes
- Preclinical CRO Services: Scientific and technological guidance plus preclinical investigations for validation of novel technologies and healthcare items in development
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Cytes Biotechnologies product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cytes Biotechnologies (operating as BeCytes Biotechnologies) specializes in the isolation, cryopreservation, and supply of primary liver cells — including primary human hepatocytes, non-parenchymal liver cells, animal hepatic cells, and supporting culture media — for biomedical research. The company also provides tissue sourcing coordination and preclinical contract research services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and academic research customers.
Product overview
BeCytes Biotechnologies offers an extensive portfolio of fresh, cryopreserved, and plateable primary liver cells for research, along with supporting culture media. The company provides two primary service offerings: Tissue Sourcing (a coordination platform for human tissue for biomedical research) and Preclinical CRO services (scientific guidance and preclinical investigations). The product portfolio centers on Primary Human Hepatocytes as the core offering, with variations including plateable cryopreserved hepatocytes and suspension hepatocytes, complemented by Primary Human Non Parenchymal Cells (NPCs), Animal Cells, and Culture Media. The company has been acquired by BioIVT.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Primary Human Hepatocytes
Companies that use Cytes Biotechnologies
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cytes Biotechnologies technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Cytes Biotechnologies partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- BioIVTcoreBeCytes Biotechnologies has been acquired by BioIVT. This acquisition expands global access to ethically sourced human biospecimens for research. The acquisition was announced via press release on BioIVT's website. BeCytes products and services are now integrated into BioIVT's portfolio, with contact information redirecting to bioivt.com.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Cytes Biotechnologies competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Corning Life Sciences: Provides primary cells (including hepatic cells), cell culture media, and extracellular matrices — overlapping with BeCytes' cells and media offerings at scale.
- BioIVT: Parent company post-acquisition; supplies a broad range of human biospecimens, including hepatocytes, plus research services — directly comparable product lines now operating under the same corporate umbrella.
- Merck KGaA (MilliporeSigma): Offers primary hepatocytes, hepatic cell lines, and cell culture reagents under the Sigma-Aldrich/MilliporeSigma brands, with comparable applications in drug metabolism and toxicology.
- Lonza: Global cell and gene therapy manufacturer offering primary hepatocytes, hepatic cell models, and a broad life-sciences catalog — overlaps with BeCytes across primary liver cells and matched media.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific (Life Sciences): Major supplier of Gibco cell culture media, primary cells, and hepatology reagents; competes with BeCytes across both the cell and media product categories.
Direct peers
- Sekisui XenoTech: The leading specialist in primary human and animal hepatocytes, subcellular fractions, and ADME-Tox services — the closest direct competitor to BeCytes' core liver-cell portfolio.
- ATCC: Global biological resource provider distributing primary cells, cell lines, and reagents used in biomedical research — overlaps in supplying authenticated primary cells and supporting reagents to pharma/biotech and academic customers.
Emerging players
- InSphero: Provides 3D in vitro liver models (spheroids, microtissues) used in hepatotoxicity and metabolic disease research — adjacent technology that competes for the same ADME-Tox research budgets as primary hepatocytes.
- CellGenix: Supplier of primary cells and cell culture reagents for cell and gene therapy and translational research — partial overlap with BeCytes' primary cell and media business serving pharma/biotech.
- Cypre Holdings (formerly Hurel Corporation): Develops advanced in vitro liver models including multi-cellular hepatocyte platforms for drug testing — overlaps with BeCytes' preclinical hepatotoxicity use cases.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cytes Biotechnologies social profiles
Digital presenceCytes Biotechnologies financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cytes Biotechnologies leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Cytes Biotechnologies funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cytes Biotechnologies 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 Cytes Biotechnologies
What does Cytes Biotechnologies do?
Cytes Biotechnologies (operating as BeCytes Biotechnologies) specializes in the isolation, cryopreservation, and supply of primary liver cells — including primary human hepatocytes, non-parenchymal liver cells, animal hepatic cells, and supporting culture media — for biomedical research. The company also provides tissue sourcing coordination and preclinical contract research services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and academic research customers.
Is Cytes Biotechnologies a public or private company?
Cytes Biotechnologies is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Cytes Biotechnologies founded?
Cytes Biotechnologies was founded in 2015.
Where is Cytes Biotechnologies based?
Cytes Biotechnologies is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does Cytes Biotechnologies make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Primary Liver Cell Products are the primary driver. The others are culture Media Products, tissue Sourcing Services and preclinical CRO Services.
Who are Cytes Biotechnologies's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Corning Life Sciences, BioIVT, Merck KGaA (MilliporeSigma), Lonza and Thermo Fisher Scientific (Life Sciences). Direct peers are Sekisui XenoTech and ATCC. Emerging players are InSphero, CellGenix and Cypre Holdings (formerly Hurel Corporation).
Does Cytes Biotechnologies have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cytes Biotechnologies.
What industry is Cytes Biotechnologies in?
Cytes Biotechnologies's product category is Biospecimens & Preclinical Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAEAI, Sample Logistics, Biorepository & IVD Kit Management (Trial Support), with a secondary code of HLAGAIAJ, Sample Preparation, Storage & Cryogenics (Freezers, Cryovials, Cryostats). Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.