What ORF Biologics does

ORF Biologics, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company headquartered at 1110 Tall Grass Ave., Tiffin, Iowa, founded in 2024 by CEO Anant Kamath, with a team of 1-10 employees. It designs and manufactures custom and off-the-shelf biologics spanning recombinant proteins (growth factors such as BDNF, FGF-2, TGF-β1, VEGF-165, Wnt-3a, Noggin, Activin A, PDGF-BB and RANKL), mammalian cell lines (CHO-K1, HEK293, suspension-adapted variants, and bone-marrow- and adipose-derived MSCs), a defined/animal-component-free OptiMax and OptiElite cell culture media line (basal media, feeds, MSC media), and tag-specific monoclonal antibodies, alongside custom biologics services covering peptide, protein, and antibody design through expression, purification, and delivery.

The underlying technology stack centers on proprietary expression systems and modular synthetic biology workflows with GMP-aware design principles, enabling pilot-to-commercial scale production of both standard catalog SKUs and tailored proteins. End-to-end vertical integration is explicit: protein design, plasmid manufacturing, clone optimization, scalable protein expression, in-process and final-product testing, and stability testing all run from the Tiffin facility, with the company's stated capability spanning R&D-grade materials through pilot batches.

The business model combines (i) direct e-commerce sales of off-the-shelf products to individual researchers and academic buyers, (ii) custom biologics manufacturing services and direct enterprise field sales to pharmaceutical and biotech customers, and (iii) non-exclusive distribution through more than ten channel partners covering 45+ countries across North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Catalog pricing is concentrated in the $100-$10,000 range with bundle discounts (e.g., 10% off cells paired with matching media). Go-to-market is a hybrid of product-led e-commerce, multi-region distribution, event-driven engagement (notably Bio 2025), and a scientific advisory board anchoring credibility with pharmaceutical decision-makers. No institutional funding rounds, patents, trademarks, or certifications have been disclosed.

Name

ORF Biologics

Legal name

ORF Biologics, Inc.

Website

https://orfbiologics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ORF Biologics is a Tiffin, Iowa-based private biotech founded in 2024 that designs and manufactures custom and off-the-shelf biologics—recombinant proteins, mammalian cell lines, defined cell culture media, and tag-specific antibodies—serving pharmaceutical, biotech, diagnostics, and academic research customers across more than 45 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biologics Manufacturing

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

Synthetic Biology & Genetic Circuit Design Platforms (pathway engineering, chassis development) (HLAAAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recombinant Protein Therapeutics (enzymes, hormones, growth factors) (HLAAAAAB), Cell Banking & Viral Seed Services (MCB/WCB/VSB) (HLAGAGAD), Antibody Discovery & Engineering Platforms (display tech, bispecifics, Fc engineering) (HLAAAIAB)

Keywords

• Recombinant protein manufacturing
• Cell line development
• Custom biologics services
• Cell culture media
• Biologics research reagents

Headquarters

HQ city

Tiffin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Off-the-Shelf Biologics Sales: Sale of pre-manufactured recombinant proteins including growth factors (BDNF, FGF-2, TGF-β1, VEGF-165, Wnt-3a, Noggin, Activin A, PDGF-BB, RANKL), cells (CHO-K1, HEK293, Suspension CHO, Suspension HEK, MSCs), and cell culture media (OptiMax product lines). Products sold through e-commerce platform and distribution network.
2. Custom Biologics Manufacturing: Custom biologic product development and manufacturing services tailored to specific research or therapeutic applications, including peptide, protein, and antibody design and production. Targets pharmaceutical companies and biotech innovators requiring custom protein engineering.
3. Distribution Revenue: Revenue generated through distribution partnerships where distributors resell ORF Biologics products globally under non-exclusive agreements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels11 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ORF Biologics designs, develops, and manufactures custom and off-the-shelf biologics, including recombinant proteins (growth factors and cytokines), mammalian cell lines (CHO, HEK293, MSC), chemically defined cell culture media and feeds, and tag-specific antibodies. The company serves biotech and pharmaceutical researchers with catalog products and bespoke protein expression services.

Product overview

ORF Biologics offers a comprehensive biologics portfolio comprising off-the-shelf recombinant growth factors and cytokines (Activin A, BDNF, FGF-2, Noggin, PDGF-BB, RANKL, TGF-beta1, VEGF-165, Wnt-3a), authenticated mammalian cell lines (CHO-K1, HEK293, Suspension CHO, Suspension HEK, BM-MSCs, AD-MSCs), and a complete line of cell culture media and feed supplements under the OptiMax (CHO Growth Media, CHO Elite Growth Media, HEK Growth Media, CHO Feed, CHO Elite Feed, HEK Feed, Feed Flex) and OptiElite (MSC Growth Media) brands. Supporting products include tag-specific monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies (FLAG, T7, HA, VSV-G, GFP, MBP, Strep) and HRP-conjugated secondary antibodies. The company also provides custom biologics services covering design, expression, purification, and delivery. The portfolio is anchored by proprietary expression systems for peptides, proteins, and antibodies, with modular workflows designed for rapid prototyping and scalability from pilot to commercial production.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CHO-K1 Cells Adherent mammalian cell line used for stable recombinant protein expression, transfection, and biologics manufacturing workflows in research and process development settings.
• HEK293 Cells Adherent human embryonic kidney cell line for transient and stable protein expression, viral vector production, and gene function studies.
• Suspension CHO Cells Suspension-adapted CHO cell line engineered for scalable, serum-free bioreactor-based recombinant protein production.
• Suspension HEK Cells Suspension-adapted HEK293 cell line designed for high-density, scalable transient transfection and protein expression.
• Bone Marrow-Derived MSCs Primary bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells supplied for regenerative medicine, cell therapy, and stem cell research applications.
• Adipose-Derived MSCs Primary adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells for regenerative medicine research, differentiation studies, and cell therapy development.
• OptiMax CHO Growth Media Chemically defined, serum-free growth medium optimized for CHO cell expansion and recombinant protein production.
• OptiMax Elite CHO Growth Media Premium chemically defined CHO growth medium engineered for elevated cell density and productivity in upstream bioprocessing.
• OptiMax HEK Growth Media Chemically defined, serum-free medium formulated to support HEK293 cell growth and transient transfection workflows.
• OptiElite MSC Growth Media Defined media formulation for the expansion and maintenance of mesenchymal stem cells under xeno-free conditions.
• OptiMax CHO Feed Chemically defined feed supplement designed to enhance productivity and extend culture duration in fed-batch CHO processes.
• OptiMax CHO Elite Feed Premium feed formulation for fed-batch CHO cultures targeting higher protein titers and process intensification.
• OptiMax HEK Feed Defined feed supplement supporting HEK293 fed-batch and high-density transient expression processes.
• OptiMax Feed Flex Flexible, chemically defined feed additive compatible with multiple cell platforms to optimize productivity.
• CHO-Adhere Growth Medium Adherent CHO growth medium for routine maintenance, transfection, and small-scale protein expression studies.
• HEK-Adhere Growth Medium Adherent HEK293 growth medium for routine culture, transfection, and laboratory-scale expression workflows.
• Recombinant Growth Factors Catalog recombinant growth factors and cytokines (including Activin A, BDNF, FGF-2, Noggin, PDGF-BB, RANKL, TGF-β1, VEGF-165, Wnt-3a, and His-tagged variants) supplied for cell biology, stem cell, and drug discovery research.
• Tag-Specific Antibodies Affinity antibodies recognizing common epitope tags (FLAG, T7, HA) for detection, purification, and characterization of tagged recombinant proteins.
• Custom Biologics Services Bespoke protein expression, cell line engineering, and process development services delivered to biotech and pharmaceutical clients with proprietary or hard-to-express targets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Quick turnaround for recombinant proteins, pilot batches, and R&D-grade materials
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments8 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

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Cosmo Bio USAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 17 February 2026Non-exclusive distribution agreement where Cosmo Bio USA sells ORF Biologics products including advanced biologics, cells, tissue culture media and ancillary research products into research and therapeutic markets in US, Canada, and Asia Pacific. Cosmo Bio USA is a leading international distributor of life science research products bridging the gap between global innovation and scientific discovery.
• Vipragen Biosciences Pvt. Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 July 2025Strategic partnership between ORF Biologics and Vipragen Biosciences to accelerate innovation in drug discovery research and assay development. The collaboration combines ORF Biologics' expertise in recombinant protein technologies with Vipragen's comprehensive capabilities in early discovery and preclinical research, including GLP-compliant bioanalytical services, immunogenicity testing, and biomarker identification. The partnership aims to develop robust, regulatory-compliant assays and provide consultancy services for biologics, biosimilars, and novel therapeutics.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific: FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific is a leading manufacturer of cell culture media for biopharmaceutical production (including CHO and HEK293), directly competing with ORF's OptiMax CHO/HEK media product line in cell therapy and bioproduction applications.
• Cytiva (Danaher): Cytiva supplies cell culture media, bioprocess solutions, and chromatography resins used in biologics manufacturing, overlapping with ORF's OptiMax media platform and chromatography resins (affinity, ion exchange, size exclusion) for biopharma customers.
• Sartorius: Sartorius is a major bioprocess supplier offering cell culture media, fermentation technologies, and process services used in biologics manufacturing — competing with ORF on media platforms and serving overlapping biopharma process-development customers.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific (Gibco / Life Sciences): Thermo Fisher, through its Gibco brand, is the dominant global supplier of cell culture media (CHO, HEK293, hybridoma), cell lines, and recombinant proteins — the broad incumbent against which ORF competes on media, cells, and growth factors as part of a much larger life-sciences portfolio.

Direct peers

• Bio-Techne: Bio-Techne (R&D Systems, Tocris, ProteinSimple brands) is a leading supplier of recombinant proteins, cytokines, growth factors, and cell culture media — directly overlapping ORF Biologics' off-the-shelf growth factors (BDNF, FGF-2, VEGF, Wnt-3a, etc.) and competing for the same biotech, pharma, and academic customers.
• Miltenyi Biotec: Miltenyi Biotec supplies cell culture media, cell separation reagents, and flow cytometry antibodies — directly comparable to ORF's cell culture media (OptiMax CHO/HEK/MSC) and antibody reagents, with overlap in MSC and CHO/HEK293 research applications.
• STEMCELL Technologies: STEMCELL Technologies is a specialist in cell culture media, primary cells (including MSCs), and reagents for stem cell research — directly overlapping ORF's MSC cell lines, OptiElite MSC Growth Media, and cell media offerings targeted at regenerative medicine and stem cell researchers.
• PeproTech (part of Thermo Fisher): PeproTech (now part of Thermo Fisher) is one of the most established manufacturers of recombinant cytokines and growth factors used in stem cell and immunology research, directly competing with ORF's portfolio of recombinant human growth factors (Activin A, BDNF, FGF-2, Noggin, PDGF-BB, RANKL, TGF-β1, VEGF-165, Wnt-3a).

Emerging players

• Akron Biotech: Akron Biotech develops cell culture media, cytokines, and ancillary reagents for cell therapy and regenerative medicine, overlapping with ORF's OptiElite MSC media, growth factors, and custom biologics services targeting cell therapy developers.
• CellGenix: CellGenix supplies GMP-grade cell culture media, cytokines, and growth factors for cell and gene therapy manufacturing, with overlapping focus on CHO/HEK platforms and regenerative-medicine customers relevant to ORF's product portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/orf-biologics-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

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 ORF Biologics