Clodomiro Picado Research Institute

What Clodomiro Picado Research Institute does

The Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP) is a public academic research institute of the Universidad de Costa Rica, founded in April 1970 and headquartered in Dulce Nombre de Coronado, San José. It is the sole producer of therapeutic antivenoms in Central America and Panama, designated as the regional reference center in ophidism by COMISCA in 1996. Over 45+ years of operation, ICP has treated an estimated 250,000 snakebite patients and is credited with saving approximately 4,500 lives annually across Central America. The institute operates a vertically integrated model — venom research, equine immunization, antivenom production, proteomics analysis, quality control, and social outreach — within a single institution.

ICP's core product portfolio spans human antivenoms organized by geographic target: Polivalente Liofilizado and PoliVal-ICP for Central and South American vipers; CoRal-ICP for coral snakes; EchiTAb+ ICP and EchiTAb-plus-ICP for African species; the Polyspecific Sri Lankan Antivenom developed with the University of Peradeniya; and a Taipan antivenom in development for Australasia. A veterinary line (PoliVet-ICP) and a bovine Bothrops asper toxoid extend coverage into livestock. Underlying technology rests on equine plasma immunization, a patented two-phase aqueous plasma fractionation method (an alternative to the global Cohn Method enabling simultaneous antivenom and albumin co-production), and a proteomics laboratory equipped with a Q-Exactive Plus mass spectrometer and Edman sequencer — the first proteomics facility in Central America.

ICP generates revenue through government procurement contracts for human antivenoms across Central America and Panama, export sales of antivenoms to South American and African health ministries, distribution of the veterinary antivenom through Costa Rican veterinary pharmacies, fee-for-service biotechnology consulting and analytical testing (proteomics, biotech QC, process development) delivered through SEDETEC, technology licensing and transfer (e.g., the Sri Lanka project), and nominal sales of promotional merchandise. Quality management is certified under INTE/ISO 9001:2015, INTE-ISO 14001, and OSHAS 18001. The institute has accumulated 20+ awards including the WHO Public Health Prize (2011), the Redi Award from the International Society for Toxinology (2015), and multiple Costa Rican National Science and Technology Prizes.

Name

Clodomiro Picado Research Institute

Legal name

Instituto Clodomiro Picado

Website

https://icp.ucr.ac.cr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Instituto Clodomiro Picado is a public academic research institute of the Universidad de Costa Rica and the sole antivenom producer for Central America and Panama, manufacturing therapeutic antivenoms via equine plasma immunization for government health ministries, exporting to South America, Africa, and Sri Lanka, and providing proteomics and biotech consulting services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Antivenom Manufacturing and Biotechnology Research

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Plasma-Derived Therapeutics (immunoglobulins, albumin, clotting factors) (HLAAAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Plasma-Derived Therapy Quality, Safety & Pharmacovigilance (Pathogen Reduction/Testing) (HLAIAHAK)

Keywords

• Antivenom production
• Equine plasma fractionation
• Snakebite therapeutics
• Biotechnology consulting
• Proteomics analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Dulce Nombre de Coronado, San José

HQ country

Costa Rica

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Antivenom sales for human use: Sale of therapeutic antivenoms (polivalent, coral-specific, and region-specific formulations) to government health systems, hospitals, and clinics across Central America, South America, the Caribbean, and Africa. Products are supplied to meet national demand through institutional procurement.
2. Veterinary antivenom sales: Sale of PoliVet-ICP, a veterinary antivenom, through veterinary pharmacies nationwide in Costa Rica for treatment of domestic and livestock animals bitten by vipers.
3. Biotechnology consulting and analysis services: Fee-for-service offerings including proteomics analysis, quality control testing for biotech products, biotechnological process design and development, and advisory services for bio-pharmaceutical and food industries.
4. Laboratory analysis services: Analytical testing services for biotech products including quality control of bio-pharmaceutical and biotechnological products, method development, implementation and validation of analytical methods.
5. Technology licensing and transfer: Transfer of antivenom production technology and plasma fractionation methodologies to international partners (e.g., Sri Lanka antivenom project with University of Peradeniya), generating revenue through technology packages and training.
6. Promotional merchandise sales: Sale of promotional items including books, DVDs, t-shirts, bags, umbrellas, caps, and other branded merchandise featuring Costa Rican snakes and ICP branding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Instituto Clodomiro Picado manufactures and distributes therapeutic antivenoms for human and veterinary use (covering Central/South American vipers, coral snakes, African snakes, Sri Lankan species, and taipan), produced using equine plasma immunization and a patented two-phase aqueous plasma fractionation method. It complements production with paid biotechnology consulting services (via SEDETEC), proteomics analysis, biotech product quality control testing, pharmacovigilance services, and training programs for institutions.

Product overview

The Instituto Clodomiro Picado operates as a unified research and production institute offering a portfolio of antivenom products and complementary biotechnological services. The core product portfolio centers on therapeutic antivenoms organized by geographic target: Polivalente Liofilizado and PoliVal-ICP for Central/South American vipers; CoRal-ICP for coral snakes; EchiTAb+ ICP and EchiTAb-plus-ICP for African snakes; Polyspecific Sri Lankan Antivenom for Sri Lankan species; and Taipan Antivenom for Australasian taipan envenomation. A veterinary line includes PoliVet-ICP for livestock envenomation. Supporting the product portfolio are analytical and consulting services: proteomic analysis, biotechnology product sample analysis, biotechnology process consulting, pharmacovigilance reporting, and training programs. The institute also distributes educational materials in various formats. All products and services are offered through direct institutional engagement rather than a digital platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SEDETEC: Sección de Desarrollo Tecnológico (SEDETEC) — the technological development section of the institute that designs and develops biotechnological production processes for the pharmaceutical, food, and agricultural industries.

Products and services

• Polivalente Liofilizado Lyophilized (freeze-dried) antivenom for hospital use, specifically designed to treat envenomation from the majority of vipers of medical importance in Central and South America.
• PoliVal-ICP Liquid formulation antivenom for hospital use, specifically designed to treat envenomation from the majority of vipers of medical importance in Central and South America.
• CoRal-ICP Antivenom for hospital use specifically designed to treat envenomation from the majority of coral snakes of Central and North America.
• EchiTAb+ ICP Lyophilized antivenom for hospital use targeting African snakes including Echis ocellatus, Bitis arietans, Naja nigricollis, Naja mossambica, Naja annulifera, Dendroaspis polylepis, and Hemachatus haemachatus.
• EchiTAb-plus-ICP Lyophilized antivenom for hospital use targeting African snakes Echis ocellatus, Bitis arietans, and Naja nigricollis.
• Polyspecific Sri Lankan Antivenom Lyophilized antivenom for hospital use targeting Sri Lankan snakes Daboia russelli, Hypnale hypnale, Echis carinatus, and Naja naja.
• Taipan Antivenom Antivenom for hospital use targeting envenomation from the taipan snake Oxyuranus scutellatus of Papua New Guinea and Australia. Currently in development.
• PoliVet-ICP Veterinary antivenom preparation of equine immunoglobulins capable of recognizing and neutralizing toxins from Central American viper venoms, administered intravenously for best efficacy within 6 hours of envenomation, for treatment of domestic and livestock animals bitten by vipers.
• Biotechnology Process Consulting (SEDETEC) Advisory services for the design and development of biotechnological production processes including lyophilization methods, protein purification, chromatographic processes, filtration techniques, water purification, stability testing, and toxicology studies, offered through the Technological Development Section (SEDETEC) for the pharmaceutical, food, and agricultural industries.
• Proteomic Analysis Services Laboratory services including intact protein/peptide mass determination, protein identification via mass spectrometry, and N-terminal sequencing using Edman degradation, utilizing a Q-Exactive Plus mass spectrometer and Edman sequencer.
• Biotechnology Product Sample Analysis Quality control examination services for human or veterinary biotechnology products using validated analytical methods to verify compliance with national and international quality standards.
• Pharmacovigilance Services Adverse event reporting and systematic evaluation services for antivenom products, supporting healthcare professionals in reporting any adverse events related to antivenoms produced by the institute.
• Training Programs (Capacitaciones) Educational presentations on basic aspects of snakebite prevention and treatment, delivered to public institutions and private companies for their personnel exposed to snakebite risks, with rates communicated upon inquiry.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 46 years, ~250,000 snakebite patients treated with ICP antivenoms
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Peradeniya (Sri Lanka)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration between the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka, ICP in Costa Rica, and AVRI (USA) to develop an effective, safe, and affordable antivenom for Sri Lankan snakebite victims. ICP designed the antivenom in conjunction with its serpentarium and production sections, including venom characterization, horse immunization, and pilot-scale production. The goal includes technology transfer for local antivenom production in Sri Lanka.
• Animal Venom Research International (AVRI, USA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration in the Sri Lanka antivenom project and other international antivenom development initiatives. AVRI facilitates connections between ICP and countries in need of antivenom technology.
• Instituto Butantan (Brazil)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration in venom research and antivenom development with one of the world's leading toxinology and antivenom production institutions.
• Instituto Pasteur (France)coreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration with the historic Pasteur Institute network in Paris for scientific exchange and research cooperation in toxinology and immunology.
• Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research on antivenoms and snakebite treatment with a leading tropical medicine institution, contributing to global efforts to address snakebite as a neglected tropical disease.
• Institut Pasteur de Montevideo (Uruguay)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Latin American collaboration on antivenom research and biotechnology development.
• USAMRIID Toxinology Division (USA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases on venom and toxin research.
• Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration on venom research and antivenom development with Mexico's leading university.
• WHO Snakebite Envenoming ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive participation in the WHO's global initiative to reduce snakebite mortality and disability, including Dr. José María Gutiérrez's panel participation at WHO in Geneva. The institute contributed to WHO's 2017 decision to include snakebite envenoming as a neglected tropical disease.
• Regional Health Ministries Network (COMISCA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFormal designation as the regional reference center for ophidism by the Council of Central American Health Ministers (COMISCA) in 1996, establishing the institute as the primary antivenom supplier for the region.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• VINS Bioproducts: Indian antivenom manufacturer producing equine-derived antivenoms for South Asian snake species. Directly comparable in product type and target indication (snakebite envenoming) and competes with ICP's Sri Lankan polyspecific antivenom.
• MicroPharm: UK-based specialist antivenom manufacturer producing ovine-derived antivenoms for African and European species. Comparable as a niche antivenom manufacturer using plasma-derived immunoglobulin technology for neglected tropical disease indications.
• Inosan Biopharma: Mexico/France-based antivenom manufacturer producing equine-derived antivenoms for Latin America. Directly comparable to ICP's Polivalente/PoliVal-ICP portfolio across similar snake species.
• Biological E Limited: Indian biologics and vaccine manufacturer with antivenom products targeting Indian subcontinent snake species. Comparable equine-derived antivenom manufacturing for tropical snakebite endemic regions.

Direct peers

• Instituto Butantan: Brazil's leading public-sector antivenom and immunobiologicals producer with comparable snake species coverage in Latin America. ICP maintains a long-standing collaboration with Butantan, indicating directly overlapping antivenom portfolios and target geographies.
• South African Vaccine Producers (SAVP): Public-sector antivenom producer for sub-Saharan Africa, producing EchiTAb-class products similar to ICP's African portfolio. Operates as a government-affiliated institute with comparable equine-based manufacturing model.
• CSL Seqirus (bioCSL / Seqirus): Australia-based antivenom producer (formerly bioCSL) that manufactures antivenoms for snakes and spiders across Asia-Pacific. Comparable as a specialized antivenom manufacturer serving public health systems with equine-derived immunoglobulins.

Others

• Institut Pasteur: Historic French research network with antivenom production and toxinology research capabilities. Listed as a strategic partner of ICP and comparable as a public-sector research/production entity in venom-related immunobiologicals.

Broad incumbents

• Sanofi Pasteur: Global vaccines and immunobiologicals division of Sanofi with historical antivenom production capability and broad plasma-derived therapy portfolio. Comparable as a large incumbent with overlapping technology platform (plasma fractionation), but operates across a much wider portfolio.

Regional players

• Instituto Nacional de Producción de Biológicos (INPB, Argentina): Argentina's national public-sector producer of immunobiologicals including antivenoms for South American species. Comparable in mission and product scope but focused on Argentina rather than Central America.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/InstitutoICP/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/324880510898878
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clodomiro-picado-research-institute

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Clodomiro Picado Research Institute