Lycotec

What Lycotec does

Lycotec Limited is a Cambridge, UK-based biotechnology company founded in 2010 that develops and commercialises carotenoid-based platform technologies spanning pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, nutraceuticals, functional foods, and industrial oils. Its core technology stack is built around proprietary formulation and delivery platforms — Lycosome (enhanced bioavailability of carotenoids and other bioactives), L-tug (lipid-folding disruption for reduced fat digestibility and weight/lipid management), Imperox (anti-inflammatory metabolites from Penicillium fungi targeting acidic oxidative damage), and Lycobiotic (prebiotics 1,000-4,000 times stronger than fibre in stimulating Bifidobacteria) — anchored by a granted European patent described as the world's first for chocolate for weight and cholesterol management.

The commercial portfolio includes five licensed technology products on the global market: Lycopene, Lutein, and Lycopene & Resveratrol supplements under the Carocelle brand, and Esthechoc and Rechoc functional chocolate products. Distribution runs through Harrods, Amazon, GNC Live Well, and channel partners Amway and Specialty Nutrition. A 2023 sub-brand launch, Lycopharma, targets body oxygen and ageing markets. Beyond consumer products, Lycotec operates a pharmaceutical pipeline of ten candidates spanning pre-clinical to Phase IIa across cardiovascular disease (LYCOSTATIN, GA-Lct-40, LycOmega), diabetic foot ulcer (t-RSV Lycosome), chronic Chlamydia infection (GAL), insulin resistance (LYCOFLAVON), prostate cancer (ID-LctPR-40, LycoMab), NAFLD/NASH (PTC Lycosome), and vascular stenting (LycoStent).

The company generates revenue through licensing and royalty streams from the five marketed products and through direct retail product sales, while pursuing B2B technology licensing with pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and functional food companies. It operates with 1-10 employees from its headquarters at Cambridge Science Park, and its research is supported by collaborations with Harvard Medical School, University of Copenhagen, Charité, and Tufts University. Past project support has come from Cambridge University, the British Heart Foundation, and the UK Department of Trade and Industry.

Name

Lycotec

Legal name

Lycotec Limited

Website

https://lycotec.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lycotec is a Cambridge, UK biotech developing carotenoid-based platform technologies — Lycosome, L-tug, Imperox, and Lycobiotic — across pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, functional foods, diagnostics, and industrial oils, commercialised via five licensed consumer products and a ten-candidate drug pipeline.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nutraceutical & Functional Food Biotechnology

NAICS

Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115), Surface Active Agent Manufacturing (325613), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)

SIC

Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Probiotics & Digestive Health Supplements (CRADAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mono- & Diglycerides (E471) & Derivatives (DATEM, SSL/CSL, Lactylates) (AFAJACAB), Medical & Clinical Nutrition Beverage Production (Oral Nutritional Supplements) (AFAFAFAJ)

Keywords

• Carotenoid biotechnology
• Nutraceutical formulation
• Functional food ingredients
• Lycosome drug delivery
• Lipid-lowering technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Licensing and Royalties: Five products based on Lycotec inventions are on the global market generating R&D and royalty revenue streams. The company licenses its technologies to partners in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and functional food industries.
2. Product Sales: Direct sales of nutraceutical products through retail channels including Harrods and Amazon. Products include Carocelle supplements (Lycopene, Lutein, Lycopene & Resveratrol) and functional chocolate products (Esthechoc, Rechoc).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lycotec develops and validates carotenoid-based platform technologies and licenses them to pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, functional food and industrial partners, while commercializing five finished products (anti-aging Esthechoc and Rechoc functional chocolate, plus Carocelle Lycopene, Lutein, and Lycopene & Resveratrol supplements) through retail and online channels. The company also operates an in-house pharmaceutical pipeline of ten candidates spanning pre-clinical to Phase IIa, and supplies functional food ingredients (Lycobiotic prebiotics, Imperox anti-inflammatory, ANC hydrogel emulsifier, L-tug oil modification, Functional Milk) for incorporation into partner products.

Product overview

Lycotec is a Cambridge, UK-based biotech company developing and commercializing carotenoid-based platform technologies across pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, nutraceuticals, and functional foods. The company's portfolio includes five licensed technology products on the market (Lycopene, Lutein, Esthechoc, Rechoc, and Lycopene & Resveratrol supplements under the Carocelle brand), an advanced pharmaceutical pipeline with 10 candidates ranging from pre-clinical to Phase IIa stages targeting cardiovascular disease, diabetes, infections, and cancer, functional food ingredients including L-tug Technology, Lycobiotic™ prebiotics, and Imperox™ for inflammation control, and industrial oil applications. The core platform is built on proprietary lycosome formulation technology that enhances bioavailability of carotenoids and other bioactive compounds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LycoPharma: A pharmaceutical/nutraceutical sub-brand of Lycotec focusing on lycopene-based health products including Lycopene and Lutein supplements.
• Esthechoc
• Carocelle

Products and services

• Esthechoc Anti-ageing dark chocolate containing lycopene and cocoa flavanols, leveraging Lycotec's proprietary carotenoid-based delivery technology. Sold through Harrods and targeted at premium consumers seeking beauty-from-within benefits.
• Rechoc Resveratrol-enriched dark chocolate sold via Harrods, leveraging Lycotec's lycopene and resveratrol delivery technology for antioxidant positioning.
• Carocelle Lycopene Lycopene dietary supplement distributed via Amazon and GNC Live Well, using Lycotec's proprietary lycopene delivery formulations for enhanced bioavailability and antioxidant support.
• Carocelle Lutein Lutein dietary supplement for eye and skin health, built on Lycotec's carotenoid technology platform and distributed through Amazon and GNC Live Well.
• Carocelle Lycopene & Resveratrol Combined Lycopene and Resveratrol dietary supplement leveraging Lycotec's synergistic antioxidant delivery technology, sold via Amazon and GNC Live Well under the Carocelle brand.
• Lycopharma Lycopharma is a brand focused on Lycotec's innovative technologies supporting body oxygen through life's challenges and ageing, housing the company's nutraceutical and pharmaceutical oxygen-related product line.
• Lycobiotic Clinically validated prebiotic ingredient, 1,000-4,000 times stronger than fibre, designed to stimulate Bifidobacteria populations in the human colon with systemic effects on liver, muscles and skin. Licensed/incorporated into partner functional food products.
• Imperox Anti-inflammatory functional food ingredient based on metabolites produced by Penicillium roqueforti and Penicillium camemberti fungi; targets downstream inflammatory cascade and acidic oxidative damage for stomach and skin health applications.
• ANC Hydrogel Emulsifier Emulsifier technology that disperses hydrophobic molecules such as carotenoids, Omega 3, and resveratrol in aqueous solutions without reducing absorption of the incorporated bioactives; applicable to beverage formulations across pH 3 to 8.
• Functional Milk Range of functional milk products incorporating Lycobiotic into dairy lipid droplets, clinically validated to stimulate probiotic bacteria populations in the human colon with systemic benefits for liver, muscles, and skin.
• L-tug Industrial Oils Industrial oils application of Lycotec's L-tug technology delivering reduced viscosity and density, increased spreadability and permeability, improved lubrication, and lower freezing/melting time for industrial grease and lubricant customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 products on global market generating R&D and royalty revenue streams
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Harvard Medical SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with Harvard University for research and development activities in health technologies.
• University of CopenhagencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with University of Copenhagen for research collaboration in carotenoid and health technologies.
• CharitecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Charite university medical institute for research and development activities.
• Tufts UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with Tufts University for research and development collaboration.
• AmwayminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partnership for nutraceutical and functional food products.
• Cambridge DiagnosticscoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partnership with Cambridge Diagnostics (Cadi) for imaging and diagnostic applications.
• Cambridge ChocolatecoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for development and commercialization of functional chocolate products including Esthechoc.
• Specialty NutritionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partnership for specialty nutrition products.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BioGaia: Swedish probiotics company commercializing proprietary Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains with clinically validated health claims, including gut health and immune support. Directly comparable to Lycotec's Lycobiotic prebiotic franchise in the gut-health ingredient space and in their licensing-led business model.
• AB Biotics: Spanish probiotics and personalized-nutrition company developing proprietary bacterial strains for pharma and functional food applications. Comparable in size, probiotic R&D focus, and B2B licensing model to Lycotec.
• Lallemand Health Solutions: Canadian probiotic and yeast-based ingredient manufacturer serving supplement, functional food, and pharma customers. Comparable to Lycotec in delivering clinically documented bioactive ingredients through licensing and B2B partnerships.
• Gnosis by Lesaffre: Specialty nutrition ingredient business of Lesaffre focused on fermented and bioavailable actives including vitamin K2 (MenaQ7) and probiotics. Comparable to Lycotec in its branded-ingredient licensing model with clinical substantiation.
• Kemin Industries: Private US-based ingredient company with a multi-vertical platform spanning carotenoids, antioxidants, functional food ingredients, and animal nutrition. Most directly comparable to Lycotec in combining proprietary bioactives (especially carotenoids) with licensing and finished-product applications across human nutrition.

Broad incumbents

• Kerry Group: Global taste and nutrition ingredients platform supplying functional food, beverage, and supplement manufacturers. Comparable in its B2B ingredient licensing model and reach into functional-food formulators that are Lycotec's primary customer base.
• Novonesis (formerly Chr. Hansen): Global bioscience leader in food cultures, enzymes, and probiotics serving dairy, beverage, and supplement manufacturers. Overlaps with Lycotec's probiotic/prebiotic and functional-dairy applications at much larger scale.
• BASF Nutrition & Health: Global chemical major with a substantial nutrition and health ingredients division, including carotenoids, vitamins, and functional food additives. Operates at far greater scale than Lycotec but addresses the same B2B formulators.
• DSM-Firmenich: Global nutrition, health, and beauty ingredients company with a significant carotenoid portfolio (incl. lycopene) and probiotics franchise. Broad incumbent in the same ingredient categories where Lycotec operates.
• ADM Nutrition: Global agricultural processor and nutrition ingredients supplier (acquired Provexis/Fruitflow). Comparable broad incumbent with both ingredient platforms and finished-product distribution that overlap with Lycotec's functional-food ambitions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lycotec

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Lycotec