Low Institute for Therapeutics

What Low Institute for Therapeutics does

Low Institute for Therapeutics (LIFT) is a non-profit drug discovery institute founded in 2025 in West Lafayette, Indiana, through a founding gift from Phil and Joan Low in partnership with Purdue University and the Purdue Research Foundation. It was established to commercialize the precision drug discovery work of the Low Lab at Purdue and to bridge the gap between academic discovery and for-profit clinical development. LIFT operates from Purdue Research Park; its corporate headcount of 1–10 employees is supplemented by the inherited ~35 graduate students/postdocs and ~50 undergraduate researchers of the Low Lab. Co-founders include Dr. Philip Low (Chairman Emeritus, deceased March 4, 2026), Jeff Pickett (Founding Donor), Benjamin Lundgren (Managing Director), and Stewart Low (Executive Director), and the institute has stated that operations continue unchanged.

LIFT's IP and pipeline centers on precision targeted-therapy platforms. Core technical capabilities include (i) folate-receptor targeting for selective payload delivery to cancer cells and tumor-associated immune cells; (ii) fibroblast activation protein (FAP) targeting for radioligand therapy and imaging against cancer-associated fibroblasts; (iii) bone-targeting drug delivery via osteotropic oligopeptides that bind exposed hydroxyapatite; and (iv) molecular-guide immune cell reprogramming to modulate immune activity. These platforms have produced three FDA-approved drugs (PLUVICTO, LOCAMETZ, CYTALUX), five investigational drugs currently in human clinical trials, and an IP estate of more than 100 approved patents built on 50+ years of Low Lab research.

LIFT serves patients with hard-to-treat solid tumors and metastatic cancer, fibrotic diseases (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic kidney disease, MASH, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction), sickle cell disease and other world diseases, immune-mediated disorders, and bone fracture patients. The institute operates a non-product distribution model: revenue is generated by licensing technologies and drug candidates to a small set of biotechnology and pharmaceutical partners (Endocyte/Novartis, On Target Laboratories, Morphimmune, Umoja Biopharma, Novosteo, Eradivir, and most recently NorthStar) who undertake clinical development, regulatory affairs, and commercialization. LIFT does not publish pricing, does not take assets through approval itself, and reaches its audience primarily through peer-reviewed publications, Purdue University news partnerships, and a LinkedIn presence.

Name

Low Institute for Therapeutics

Legal name

Low Institute for Therapeutics, Inc.

Website

https://lowinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Low Institute for Therapeutics (LIFT) is a non-profit drug discovery institute translating Purdue University research into precision targeted therapies for cancer, fibrosis, sickle cell, immune, and bone indications, generating revenue through licensing partnerships with biotech and pharma companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Drug Discovery Research

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Genetic & Genomic Rare Disease Therapeutics (HLAIAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hematology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (Non-malignant) (HLAIACAI), Infectious Disease Specialty Pharmaceuticals (Non-vaccine) (HLAIACAM)

Keywords

• Drug discovery research
• Targeted therapeutics
• Precision medicine platform
• Radioligand therapy
• Academic clinical translation

Headquarters

HQ city

West Lafayette

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Licensing and Partnership Revenue: LIFT generates revenue through licensing its technologies and drug candidates to biotechnology and pharmaceutical partners who advance them through clinical development and commercialization. The institute actively seeks partnerships to translate breakthrough discoveries into approved medicines that reach patients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Low Institute for Therapeutics is a non-profit drug discovery institute that discovers and develops precision targeted therapeutics for cancer, fibrotic diseases, immune-mediated disorders, regenerative medicine, and global diseases such as sickle cell disease. It translates discoveries from the Low Lab at Purdue University into clinical-stage drug candidates and licenses them to biotechnology and pharmaceutical partners for further development, regulatory approval, and commercialization.

Product overview

Low Institute for Therapeutics (LIFT) is a non-profit drug discovery institute with three FDA-approved drugs (PLUVICTO, LOCAMETZ, CYTALUX) and a pipeline of investigational drugs in clinical trials. The institute operates a targeted therapeutics platform focusing on precision medicines for solid tumors and metastatic cancer, fibrotic diseases, immune-mediated disorders, regenerative medicine (bone healing), and world diseases including sickle cell disease and malaria. LIFT bridges academic drug discovery from Purdue University with for-profit clinical development through strategic partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PLUVICTO FDA-approved targeted radioligand therapy discovered by the Low Lab for the treatment of solid tumors. Out-licensed to Endocyte/Novartis for clinical development and commercialization.
• LOCAMETZ FDA-approved targeted radioligand imaging agent and therapeutic discovered by the Low Lab for cancer imaging and treatment. Out-licensed to Endocyte/Novartis for clinical development and commercialization.
• CYTALUX FDA-approved folate-receptor targeted intraoperative near-infrared imaging agent developed for ovarian cancer surgery, enabling surgeons to identify cancerous tissue in real time. Out-licensed to On Target Laboratories for commercialization.
• Lu177-LT17 Novel radioligand therapy in development for patients with cancer-associated bone disease, advanced in partnership with NorthStar under a strategic collaboration announced in May 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3 FDA approved drugs (PLUVICTO, LOCAMETZ, CYTALUX) discovered and advanced through clinical development
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• NorthStarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026LIFT and NorthStar announced a strategic collaboration to support the development and clinical translation of Lu177-LT17, a novel radioligand therapy for patients with cancer-associated bone disease. This partnership advances a targeted therapy through clinical development toward FDA approval.
• Purdue UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIFT was founded to advance and accelerate the pioneering drug discovery work conducted at Purdue University in the lab of Dr. Phil Low. The institute bridges the gap between academic discovery and for-profit clinical development, building on a unique foundation of thoughtful discovery and world-class translational science.
• Purdue Research FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIFT operates in partnership with Purdue University and Purdue Research Foundation, created through a generous founding gift by Phil and Joan Low. Operations continue at Purdue Research Park.
• Endocyte/NovartismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensing partnership that contributed to FDA approval of PLUVICTO and LOCAMETZ. Endocyte, founded by LIFT board member Ron Ellis, developed targeted therapies for oncology.
• On Target LaboratoriesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensing partnership that contributed to FDA approval of CYTALUX. On Target Laboratories commercializes folate-receptor targeted imaging agents.
• Eradivir Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer LIFT Executive Director Stewart Low served as COO at Eradivir Inc., leading an antiviral program into Phase II trials.
• Novosteo Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIFT co-founder Stewart Low co-founded Novosteo Inc. and served as CSO, advancing bone repair therapies that were later acquired by Quince Therapeutics.
• MorphimmunemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensing partnership for targeted therapeutics from the Low Lab portfolio.
• Umoja BiopharmamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensing partnership for targeted therapeutics from the Low Lab portfolio.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Endocyte (Novartis): Endocyte was co-founded by LIFT board member Ron Ellis and developed PLUVICTO and LOCAMETZ — both discovered in the same Low Lab science that LIFT now commercializes. Acquired by Novartis for ~$2.1B, it is the most directly comparable commercial analog to LIFT's targeted-therapy pipeline.
• Lantheus Holdings: Specialty radiopharmaceutical company with a portfolio of approved and clinical-stage radiodiagnostic and radiotherapeutic agents. Competes in the same radioligand and targeted imaging categories that anchor LIFT's PLUVICTO/CYTALUX heritage programs.
• Novartis (Radioligand Therapy franchise): Through its acquisition of Endocyte, Novartis owns and commercializes PLUVICTO and LOCAMETZ — drugs discovered in the same Low Lab science LIFT now represents. The most significant commercial incumbent shaping the radioligand therapy market LIFT addresses.
• Point Biopharma (Eli Lilly): Radiopharmaceutical company acquired by Eli Lilly for ~$1.4B focused on next-generation radioligand therapies. Represents the strategic exit path for LIFT-style targeted radioligand platforms and a direct competitor for partnership/licensing opportunities.
• Bayer (Radioligand Therapy): Major pharma investing aggressively in radioligand therapy, including Xofigo and the broader Actinium-225 / Lutetium-177 pipeline. Competes for the same oncology indications and partnership opportunities as LIFT's folate-receptor and FAP programs.

Emerging players

• Telix Pharmaceuticals: Commercial-stage radiopharmaceutical company developing diagnostic and therapeutic agents across prostate cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and other oncology indications. A relevant emerging peer in the same targeting-platform and radioligand space.

Direct peers

• Umoja Biopharma: Current LIFT licensing partner for targeted therapeutics from the Low Lab portfolio. Develops in vivo cell-engineering platforms that intersect with LIFT's immune-cell reprogramming targeting work.
• On Target Laboratories: Current LIFT licensing partner commercializing CYTALUX, a folate-receptor targeted intraoperative imaging agent originating from the Low Lab. Operates in the same folate-receptor targeting space with direct technology lineage from LIFT's underlying research.
• NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes: Strategic co-development partner advancing Lu177-LT17, LIFT's novel radioligand therapy for cancer-associated bone disease. Works on the same targeted-radiopharmaceutical platform and provides LIFT's route to clinical translation in radioligand therapy.
• Novosteo (acquired by Quince Therapeutics): Co-founded by LIFT's Stewart Low; developed bone-targeted therapeutics from the Low Lab portfolio before being acquired by Quince Therapeutics. Directly comparable in mission (bone-targeted drug delivery) and origin (Low Lab science).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-low-institute-for-therapeutics

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 Low Institute for Therapeutics