Iontox

What Iontox does

Iontox was a specialty contract research organization founded in 2014 and based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, providing in vitro assay services for predicting adverse effects of drugs, chemicals, and medical devices. Its service portfolio spanned cytotoxicity screening, DMPK/ADMET profiling, biocompatibility and genotoxicity testing, epithelial/dermal/ocular irritation assays, and endocrine disruption evaluation — including a proprietary 3D Thyroid Microtissue model for thyroid-disrupting compounds and Microphysiological Systems (MPS) with simulated blood flow. The technical differentiator was an emphasis on all-human primary cells and biospecimens rather than immortalized cell lines or animal models, intended to produce more predictive, human-relevant data for IND and regulatory submissions, with 10-day non-GLP and 25-day GLP turnaround times.

The company was acquired by LifeNet Health LifeSciences and now operates as a wholly-owned unit under that parent's brand, with its services delivered under the scientific direction of James McKim, PhD, DABT. Commercially, Iontox/LifeSciences runs a B2B enterprise model — direct consultation, custom study design, and project-based quote-priced contracts — targeting pharmaceutical and biotech companies (primary), medical device manufacturers (primary), and chemical companies (secondary), with regulatory compliance anchored in ISO 10993, OECD, and GLP standards. Distribution is now routed through the parent's website, content-marketing assets (webinars, publications, case studies), and a global direct-sales channel with no publicly disclosed pricing.

The operating entity is small (1–10 employees at the standalone level pre-acquisition) and is fully integrated into LifeNet Health's broader Cells & Models and Biospecimens ecosystem, which provides exclusive access to primary hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, stellate cells, liver endothelial cells, media, and snap-frozen tissue products.

Name

Iontox

Legal name

Iontox

Website

https://iontox.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Iontox, now part of LifeNet Health LifeSciences, is a Kalamazoo-based specialty CRO offering in vitro assay services — cytotoxicity, DMPK/ADMET, biocompatibility, and NAMs — for pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, and chemical companies requiring ISO 10993, OECD, and GLP-compliant safety testing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

In vitro toxicology testing services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

In Vitro Toxicology (Cell-based/Organ-on-chip) (HLAGAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

DMPK / ADME & Bioanalysis (HLAGAFAC), Cell-Based & Potency Assays (Bioassays) (HLAGADAH), Safety & Toxicology Biomarkers (DILI, cardiotoxicity, immunogenicity, off-target effects) (HLAAAMAG)

Keywords

• In vitro toxicology
• Biocompatibility assays
• ADME profiling
• Cytotoxicity assays
• Genotoxicity testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Kalamazoo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Research Services: B2B contract research services for in vitro assay testing including cytotoxicity, DMPK/ADMET, biocompatibility, and other specialized toxicology services. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts with pharmaceutical, biotech, and chemical companies requiring regulatory-compliant testing services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Iontox provides in vitro assay services for toxicology and safety testing, including biocompatibility/genotoxicity, cytotoxicity, ADME/DMPK, and irritation studies, for pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, and chemical companies. The services leverage human primary cells, biospecimens, and proprietary platforms such as the TruVivo Hepatic System to predict adverse effects of drugs and chemicals without in vivo animal testing. The company is now positioned as part of LifeNet Health LifeSciences' assay services division.

Product overview

Iontox, acquired by LifeNet Health LifeSciences, offers a comprehensive portfolio of in vitro assay services delivered under the direction of industry leader James McKim, PhD, DABT. The service offering comprises eight distinct testing service lines: Biocompatibility & Genotoxicity Assays, Cytotoxicity Assays, DMPK/ADMET profiling, New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), Epithelial Irritation & Toxicity, Dermal Services, Ocular Services, and Endocrine Disruption Assays. These services are designed to help clients predict adverse effects from drug or chemical exposure and address complex toxicological and product safety questions for regulatory submissions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Biocompatibility & Genotoxicity Assays In vitro assays assessing biocompatibility and genotoxic potential of compounds, medical devices, and materials for pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, and chemical manufacturers.
• Cytotoxicity Assays In vitro cell-based cytotoxicity testing services to evaluate compound- and material-induced cell death for safety screening programs.
• DMPK/ADMET Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics / Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity studies supporting preclinical drug development.
• New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) Animal-free, non-animal alternative testing methodologies using human-relevant in vitro models for predictive toxicology and regulatory safety assessment.
• Epithelial Irritation & Toxicity In vitro epithelial tissue irritation and toxicity assays used to predict local tissue effects of chemicals, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical candidates.
• Dermal Services In vitro dermal toxicity and skin safety testing services for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and chemical industry clients.
• Ocular Services In vitro ocular irritation and toxicity testing services using human-relevant tissue models as alternatives to animal eye irritation tests.
• Endocrine Disruption Assays In vitro assays evaluating endocrine activity and disruption potential of chemicals and drug candidates for regulatory and screening programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10-day turnaround for non-GLP results, 25-day turnaround for GLP results
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Inotiv: Preclinical CRO focused on toxicology, safety assessment, and research models for pharma and medical device clients. Offers in vitro and in vivo capabilities and competes head-to-head for outsourced toxicology studies.
• Absorption Systems: Niche CRO specializing in in vitro ADME, drug transporters, and pharmacokinetic profiling. Highly comparable to Iontox's DMPK/ADMET offering and target customer base.
• BioReliance (Merck KGaA): Merck KGaA's biosafety testing and characterization services unit providing in vitro toxicology, biologics safety, and viral clearance testing to pharma/biotech. Competes for the same regulated GLP study work.
• Cyprotex (Evotec): Specialist provider of in vitro ADME, DMPK, and toxicity services to pharma/biotech. Closely aligned to Iontox's DMPK/ADMET and cytotoxicity service lines and shares the NAMs growth thesis.

Regional players

• Scantox: Preclinical CRO headquartered in Scandinavia offering in vitro toxicology, genotoxicity, and biocompatibility services. Comparable services and regulatory positioning, though primarily serving European sponsors.

Broad incumbents

• Charles River Laboratories: Global preclinical CRO offering in vitro toxicology, ADME, and biocompatibility services alongside much larger in vivo, manufacturing, and clinical businesses. Directly overlaps Iontox's service portfolio but at substantially greater scale.
• Eurofins Scientific: Global testing services group offering in vitro toxicology, biocompatibility, and chemical safety assessment across pharma, medical device, and chemical end-markets. Overlaps with Iontox's OECD and ISO 10993-aligned service lines.
• Labcorp (Covance Drug Development): Diversified CRO and diagnostics provider with significant preclinical and central laboratory capabilities, including in vitro safety and ADME services. Competes for the same pharma/biotech sponsor RFPs as Iontox.

Emerging players

• CN Bio: Developer of organ-on-chip and MPS platforms for drug discovery and toxicology. Adjacent competitor in the NAMs and microphysiological systems space where Iontox also competes.
• Emulate, Inc. Organ-on-chip / microphysiological systems developer offering in vitro alternatives to animal testing. Comparable to Iontox's MPS and TruVivo platforms within the NAMs category, though more product-focused than services-focused.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iontox
• Xx.com/iontox_llc
• Facebookfacebook.com/IONTOXOfficial

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Iontox