Ipracell

What Ipracell does

Ipracell (legal name IPRACELL) is a privately held Belgian specialty manufacturer of mammalian cell-based biologicals and a provider of related cell culture and custom protein services, operating as the cell culture and biologicals production business unit of IPRATECH within the IPRAGROUP. The company is headquartered at IPRATECH's Avenue Jean Mermoz 32 address in Gosselies, Belgium, with its GLP-compliant cell culture production facility in Mons, Belgium, and has been operating since 2007 on the basis of more than 20 years of expertise inherited from predecessor entities 4CBiotech and CILBiotech.

The core product catalog consists of off-the-shelf biologicals derived from mammalian cell lines — including HeLa cell pellets, cytoplasmic extracts, S100 cytoplasmic fractions, nuclei, nuclear extracts (dialysed and non-dialysed), and mitochondria — alongside equivalents from eleven additional cell lines (CV-1, K562, L363, HL-60, Jurkat, HUT-78, U937, THP-1, BV173, MOLT-4, RAMOS). All HeLa products are kept in stock and shipped worldwide every Monday on dry ice. Production relies on sonoperfused fedbatch (cytostat) mode at a constant 5×10^6 cells/ml with reported 93–99% viability, four bioreactor production units (3L, 7L, 15L) running batch, fed-batch or perfusion, automated dounce homogenization, and single-step affinity purification on Streamline columns. Beyond catalog reagents, Ipracell offers custom cell culture process development, adherent and suspension cell manufacturing, and customized protein production — including pharmaceutical-grade antibodies (grams to hundreds of grams) and ready-to-use IgG for diagnostic applications — at >90–95% reported purity under GLP.

Commercially, Ipracell runs a direct-to-customer e-commerce model via ipracell.be/shop with publicly listed EUR pricing (typical unit prices €858–€2,464 depending on cell type, size, and extract type), pay-as-you-go billing, and payment terms of 30 days from invoice plus wire, card, or PayPal. Customer segments span academic research, public and private research groups (primary), pharmaceutical research (primary), and diagnostic companies (secondary), with no enterprise logos, contract terms, or revenue figures disclosed in the available data.

Name

Ipracell

Legal name

IPRACELL

Website

https://ipracell.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ipracell is a privately held Belgian specialty manufacturer of mammalian cell-derived biologicals (cell pellets, extracts, nuclei, mitochondria) and provider of GLP-compliant custom cell culture and antibody production services, serving academic, pharmaceutical, and diagnostic research customers worldwide via direct e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biological Reagents

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Process Development & Tech Transfer Services (upstream/downstream) (HLAAAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cell Therapy Manufacturing Platforms & Automation (closed systems, bioreactors, fill-finish) (HLAAABAG)

Keywords

• Mammalian cell products
• Cell culture services
• Biological reagents manufacturing
• Protein purification services
• Custom antibody production

Headquarters

HQ city

Mons

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Mammalian Cell Products: Sale of biological products derived from mammalian cell cultures including cell pellets, lysates, nuclear extracts, cytoplasm/S100 extracts, and mitochondria from various cell lines including HeLa, CV-1, K562, L363, HL-60, Jurkat, HUT-78, U937, THP-1, BV173, MOLT-4, and RAMOS.
2. Cell Culture Services: Custom cell culture production services including process development, manufacturing at various scales (spinner flask to 15L bioreactors), adherent cell cultivation, and suspension cell production.
3. Customized Protein Products: Production and purification of customized proteins including antibodies (from grams to hundreds of grams) for pharmaceutical development, ready-to-use IgG for diagnostic applications, and recombinant proteins. Includes upstream production and single capture/purification step providing >90-95% concentrated protein.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Ipracell manufactures and sells a broad portfolio of mammalian cell biologicals, including cell pellets, lysates, nuclear extracts, cytoplasm/S100 extracts, nuclei, and mitochondria from multiple mammalian cell lines (HeLa, CV-1, K562, L363, HL-60, Jurkat, HUT-78, U937, THP-1, BV173, MOLT-4, RAMOS). The company also provides custom cell culture services using GLP-compliant bioreactor systems (3L, 7L, 15L) and customized protein production services, including antibody manufacturing from grams to hundreds of grams for pharmaceutical and diagnostic applications.

Product overview

Ipracell is a mammalian cell products and services company offering a comprehensive portfolio of biologicals and cell culture services. The product portfolio centers on HeLa-based products (cell pellets, cytoplasmic extracts, S100 extracts, nuclei, nuclear extracts, mitochondria) as the flagship offerings, supplemented by products from multiple other cell lines including CV-1, L363, K562, Jurkat, BV173, THP-1, U937, HL-60, RAMOS, MOLT-4, and HUT-78. The company provides both standard in-stock products (particularly all HeLa products shipped weekly worldwide) and custom manufacturing services including process development for protein expression platforms, GMP/GLP-compliant manufacturing using bioreactors, and downstream purification services. Services cover pharmaceutical antibody production and diagnostic IgG production.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HeLa Cell Pellets Whole cell pellets harvested from HeLa cells in exponential phase, prepared by low speed centrifugation, rinsed with phosphate-buffered saline, snap frozen and stored at -85°C. Used for biochemical processing, isolation of gDNA and RNA, and production of whole cell lysates.
• HeLa Cytoplasmic Extracts Cytoplasmic extracts from fresh HeLa cells, rich source of ribosomal subunits, translation factors, and mRNA regulatory proteins. Used for protein purification, translatome analysis, circRNAs studies, and ribosomal subunit studies.
• HeLa S100 Cytoplasmic Extracts Cytoplasmic fraction from HeLa cells with volume ranging from 420µl to 42ml. Rich source of ribosomal subunits (40S, 60S, 80S), translation factors (eIFs, IRES, PolyA binding proteins), and mRNA regulatory proteins. Used for in vitro splicing, protein-DNA/RNA and protein-protein interactions studies.
• HeLa Nuclei Nuclei isolated from fresh HeLa cells in exponential phase. Prepared by low speed centrifugation, exposed to hypotonic buffer, separated via dounce and centrifugation. Used for nucleic acid purification, protein expression studies, and in vitro activity assays.
• HeLa Nuclear Extracts Nuclear extracts prepared from HeLa cells (viability >95%), concentration ~6mg/ml (Bradford). Source of HDAC activity, transcription factors, chromatin proteins and histones. Used for Gel Shift assays, HDAC assays, Western Blot controls, in vitro splicing, and transcription factors studies.
• HeLa Nuclear Extracts (Not Dialysed) Nuclear extracts from HeLa cells prepared without dialysis, stopped after ultra-centrifugation step. Volume from 150µl to 15ml, concentration ~6mg/ml (Bradford), viability >95%.
• HeLa Mitochondria Mitochondria isolated from HeLa cells grown in sonoperfused fedbatch mode at 5×10^6 cells/ml. Used for mitochondrial DNA purification, mitochondrial protein isolation, and studies of human mitochondrial processes.
• CV-1 Nuclei Nuclei from CV-1 African green monkey kidney cell line. Prepared by low speed centrifugation, hypotonic buffer exposure, dounce and centrifugation. Snap frozen and stored at -85°C.
• CV-1 Cytoplasmic Extracts Cytoplasmic extracts from CV-1 cells. Cytoplasm separated via dounce and centrifugation, snap frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -85°C.
• CV-1 Cell Pellets Cell pellets from CV-1 African green monkey cells. Prepared by low speed centrifugation, rinsed with phosphate buffer saline, snap frozen and stored at -85°C.
• L363 Cell Pellets Cell pellets from L363 human plasma cell leukemia line. Cells grown in sonoperfused fedbatch mode at 5×10^6 cells/ml under GLP conditions. Used for biochemical processing and purification of biological material.
• K562 Cell Pellets Cell pellets from K562 human erythroleukemia line established from pleural effusion of chronic myelogenous leukemia patient. Cells grown in sonoperfused fedbatch mode at 5×10^6 cells/ml under GLP conditions.
• Jurkat Cell Pellets Cell pellets from Jurkat T lymphoblast cell line established from peripheral blood of a 14-year-old boy. Cells grown in sonoperfused fedbatch mode at 5×10^6 cells/ml under GLP conditions.
• BV173 Cell Pellets Cell pellets from BV173 B cell precursor leukemia cell line. Cells grown in sonoperfused fedbatch mode at 5×10^6 cells/ml under GLP conditions.
• THP-1 Cell Pellets Cell pellets from THP-1 acute monocytic leukemia cell line established from a 1-year-old boy. Cells grown in sonoperfused fedbatch mode at 5×10^6 cells/ml under GLP conditions.
• U937 Cell Pellets Cell pellets from U937 histiocytic lymphoma cell line. Used as model for studying monocyte behavior and differentiation. Cells grown in sonoperfused fedbatch mode at 5×10^6 cells/ml under GLP conditions.
• HL-60 Cell Pellets Cell pellets from HL-60 promyeloblast cell line derived from a 36-year-old female with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Cells grown in sonoperfused fedbatch mode at 5×10^6 cells/ml under GLP conditions.
• RAMOS Cell Pellets Cell pellets from RAMOS B lymphocyte cell line derived from a 3-year-old male with Burkitt's lymphoma. Cells grown in sonoperfused fedbatch mode at 5×10^6 cells/ml under GLP conditions.
• MOLT-4 Cell Pellets Cell pellets from MOLT-4 T lymphoblast cell line derived from a 19-year-old male with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cells grown in sonoperfused fedbatch mode at 5×10^6 cells/ml under GLP conditions.
• HUT-78 Cell Pellets Cell pellets from HUT-78 Sezary syndrome T cell line with helper/inducer activity. Cells release IL-2 and have receptors for IL-2. Cells grown in sonoperfused fedbatch mode at 5×10^6 cells/ml under GLP conditions.
• Cell Culture Services Process development and manufacturing services for cell-based protein expression. Includes fed-batch and perfusion bioreactor production using 3L, 7L or 15L bioreactors. Services for adherent cells (hyperflask, cell factories, microcarriers) and suspension cells with acoustic filter and online biomass probe technology. Process development includes media, feeding strategy and perfusion optimization.
• Customized Protein Products Custom protein production services including antibody production (pharmaceutical, diagnostic applications), enzyme production, and recombinant protein expression. Services include upstream processing, capture/purification using affinity resins (Pall MEP Hypercell, GE ProteinA Sepharose), and custom formulation. Provides products from milligrams to hundreds of grams scale at >90-95% protein concentration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cell viability maintained at 93%-99% during production
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IpratechcoreOthersIpracell is the 'Cell Culture and Biologicals Production' business unit of Ipratech. Ipracell has reduced to practice a range of innovative and enabling technologies developed by Ipratech.
• IprasenseminorOthersSister company within IPRAGROUP focused on different life sciences technologies.
• EMMAminorOthersSister company within IPRAGROUP (emma-belgium.com).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• ATCC: ATCC is the leading global cell line repository and supplier of authenticated biological materials for research, directly mirroring Ipracell's catalog of cell pellets, extracts, and cell line–based products for academic and industrial buyers.
• Cell Applications Inc: Cell Applications supplies primary cells, cell culture reagents, and cell-based products to research customers, comparable to Ipracell's catalog of mammalian cell biologicals and supporting services.
• Neuromics: Neuromics provides cell-derived products (including primary cells, lysates, and cell extracts) for academic and biotech research, comparable to Ipracell's mammalian cell pellet and extract catalog.
• Coriell Institute: Coriell distributes cell lines and biological products for research use, overlapping with Ipracell's offering of mammalian cell pellets, nuclear extracts, and cytoplasmic fractions to the academic and pharmaceutical research community.

Broad incumbents

• MilliporeSigma (Sigma-Aldrich): MilliporeSigma distributes a vast catalog of cell biology products, cell extracts, and reagents that overlap Ipracell's mammalian cell biologicals offering, though it serves a much broader scientific audience across many product categories.
• Cytiva: Cytiva supplies bioreactors, cell culture consumables, and bioprocessing services that overlap with Ipracell's bioreactor-based process development and manufacturing offering, but across a much broader life sciences portfolio.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher's life sciences segment supplies cell culture media, cell line reagents, and bioproduction services that intersect Ipracell's catalog and service business, but at scale and as part of a much larger portfolio of tools and CDMO capabilities.
• Lonza: Lonza is a global CDMO offering mammalian cell culture process development, bioreactor manufacturing, and protein production services that overlap Ipracell's cell culture services and custom protein offerings, though at much larger scale and across modalities including cell and gene therapy.
• Sartorius: Sartorius provides bioreactor systems and bioprocess solutions used for mammalian cell culture production comparable to Ipracell's fedbatch/perfusion operations, but as a large incumbent serving a much broader set of biopharma manufacturers.

Emerging players

• ACROBiosystems: ACROBiosystems manufactures recombinant proteins, antibodies, and cell-based reagents for research and diagnostic use, partially overlapping Ipracell's custom protein production and biological product offerings, particularly for IVD and biopharma research buyers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Ipracell