Cape Biologix Technologies
Cape Biologix Technologies manufactures plant-made recombinant proteins using a proprietary Nicotiana benthamiana transient expression platform (PtX-PRO™), supplying research reagents, diagnostic antigens, and contract manufacturing services to life sciences researchers, diagnostic kit makers, and pharmaceutical companies globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersCape Town, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cape Biologix Technologies does
Cape Biologix Technologies is a South African plant molecular farming company that develops and manufactures recombinant proteins using a proprietary transient expression platform. Founded in 2020 as a production subsidiary of Cape Bio Pharms (a University of Cape Town spin-off), the company converts Nicotiana benthamiana plants into single-use, biodegradable bioreactors via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated infiltration under its registered PtX-PRO™ technology. It produces a catalog of plant-made recombinant monoclonal antibodies and antigens (including anti-GST, anti-IL-8, anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike RBD, and anti-HIV-1 p24) for research and diagnostic applications, alongside custom protein development and contract manufacturing services for clients requiring animal-derived-component-free production. Reported product purity is ≥90% by SDS-PAGE and 98.94% by mass spectrometry.
The company operates a hybrid go-to-market combining direct sales ([email protected], OEM and contract manufacturing relationships) with a network of regional distributors covering South Africa (BioCom Africa), Germany (BIOZOL, Hölzel Biotech), the UK (2BScientific), India (OSB, Precision Technology), and China (PKR, ARP, JLW Suppliers). Pricing is quote-based across unit volumes from 0.1mg to 200mg. Cape Biologix is ISO 13485:2016 certified for medical device quality management and has secured EUR 47.5 million in project financing led by the European Investment Bank (EUR 33.3 million) and FIND (EUR 3.2 million) to expand its Cape Town facility and build a new cGMP manufacturing plant in Mauritius, with stated ambitions to produce 100 million vaccine doses per month for distribution across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.
The customer base spans academic and industrial life sciences researchers, diagnostic kit manufacturers (notably for COVID-19 antibody tests via partnerships with Canadian firms Inno-3B and PlantForm), and pharmaceutical or biotech firms requiring custom or contract recombinant protein production. Strategic development partnerships include the Austrian Medicines for Future (M4F) initiative for glyco-engineered ACE2 decoy therapeutics and the kENUP Foundation-facilitated African manufacturing program. Leadership is anchored by CEO Belinda Shaw, who co-founded the company with the Cape Bio Pharms parent organization.
Cape Biologix Technologies firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cape Biologix Technologies
- Legal name
- Cape Biologix Technologies
- Website
- https://capebiologix.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cape Biologix Technologies manufactures plant-made recombinant proteins using a proprietary Nicotiana benthamiana transient expression platform (PtX-PRO™), supplying research reagents, diagnostic antigens, and contract manufacturing services to life sciences researchers, diagnostic kit makers, and pharmaceutical companies globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cape Biologix Technologies industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Recombinant Protein Manufacturing
- NAICS
- In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Recombinant Protein Therapeutics (enzymes, hormones, growth factors) (HLAAAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization) (HLAAAIAC), Synthetic Biology & Genetic Circuit Design Platforms (pathway engineering, chassis development) (HLAAAIAD)
Keywords
Where Cape Biologix Technologies is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cape Town
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cape Biologix Technologies business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Product Sales: Sale of plant-made recombinant proteins including antibodies and antigens for research and diagnostic applications. Products include recombinant monoclonal antibodies, GST-tag detection reagents, and disease-specific antigens.
- Custom Protein Development Services: R&D services to develop complex and simple recombinant proteins at cost to meet unique performance standards and satisfy consumer and regulatory demand for animal derived component free products.
- Contract Manufacturing: Bulk manufacture of recombinant proteins using plant transient expression system. Provides significant cost savings for production of cytokines, enzymes, and growth factors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom quotation-based pricing for research and diagnostic reagents |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Cape Biologix Technologies product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cape Biologix Technologies develops and manufactures plant-made recombinant proteins, including monoclonal antibodies and antigens, for research, diagnostic, and biopharma applications. The company uses its proprietary PtX-Pro™ transient plant expression platform, employing Nicotiana benthamiana plants as single-use biodegradable mini-bioreactors via Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated infiltration. It also offers custom protein development and contract manufacturing services for clients requiring animal-derived component free recombinant proteins.
Product overview
Cape Biologix Technologies, a subsidiary of Cape Bio Pharms, operates as a plant-based recombinant protein manufacturer utilizing the PtXPro™ transient expression technology platform. The company produces a catalog of PtX™ recombinant monoclonal antibodies (including Rabbit Anti-GST, Human Anti-IL-8, Rabbit Anti-c-Myc, Human Anti-Spike RBD, and Human Anti-HIV-1 p24) and antigens for research and diagnostic applications targeting inflammation, HIV, COVID-19, and autoimmune disorders. Alongside the product catalog, Cape Biologix offers Custom Protein Development and Contract Manufacturing services, enabling clients to develop custom plant-made proteins or commission bulk manufacturing. The PtXPro™ platform converts Nicotiana benthamiana plants into single-use biodegradable bioreactors using Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated infiltration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PtX-Pro™: Proprietary plant-based expression technology platform that converts Nicotiana benthamiana plants into mini-bioreactors for recombinant protein production
- PtX™
Products and services
- PtX™ Rabbit Anti-GST Recombinant Antibody
- PtX™ Human Anti-IL-8 Plant-made recombinant human antibody targeting Interleukin-8 for research and diagnostic applications related to inflammation.
- PtX™ Rabbit Anti-c-Myc (9E10) Plant-made recombinant rabbit monoclonal antibody for detection of c-Myc tagged proteins in research applications.
- PtX™ Human Anti-Spike RBD (CR3022) Plant-made recombinant human antibody targeting the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein for COVID-19 research and diagnostics.
- PtX™ Human Anti-HIV-1 p24 Plant-made recombinant human antibody against HIV-1 p24 antigen for HIV research and diagnostic applications.
- Custom Protein Development Services R&D and OEM services to develop complex and simple recombinant proteins using plant-based expression to meet unique performance standards and satisfy consumer and regulatory demand for animal-derived component free products.
- Contract Manufacturing Services Bulk manufacture of recombinant proteins using the plant transient expression system, providing cost savings for production of cytokines, enzymes, and growth factors at scale.
Quantifiable outcome
- Purity ≥90% as determined by SDS-PAGE, 98.94% as verified by Mass Spectrometry
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Cape Biologix Technologies
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cape Biologix Technologies technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Cape Biologix Technologies partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- Inno-3BmajorCanadian partnership for growing plants to produce SARS-CoV-2 antigens. Inno-3B grows plants at their facility in Saint-Pacôme, Quebec for the COVID-19 antibody blood test collaboration.
- PlantFormmajorCanadian company extracting, purifying, and manufacturing antigens from plant material supplied by Inno-3B. Partnership to provide fast, low-cost, accurate plant-made proteins for COVID-19 monitoring.
- Medicines for Future (M4F)coreAustrian initiative for developing COVID-19 therapy using ACE2 decoys produced in glyco-engineered plants. Agreement for cooperation signed at EU-Africa Summit for GMP manufacturing capacity building.
- Cape Bio PharmscoreCape Biologix is a production subsidiary of Cape Bio Pharms. Cape Bio Pharms is a spin-off from the University of Cape Town. The parent company provides strategic direction and umbrella branding for the Cape Biologix subsidiary operations.
- kENUP FoundationcorekENUP Foundation initiated the financing project and facilitated partnership between Cape Biologix, EIB, and FIND for African manufacturing of proteins for vaccines and testing kits.
- 2BScientific LtdmajorUK-based leading distributor of Cape Biologix products. Representatives visited Cape Biologix facilities and strengthen supplier relationship for providing plant-made reagents to UK customers.
- BIOZOL GmbHmajorGerman distributor for Cape Biologix products. Hosted visit from BIOZOL team (Jonas Baeuerle, Jochen Hauer, Sandra Freund) to strengthen partnership and product knowledge.
- Hölzel Biotech GermanymajorGerman distributor providing access to Cape Biologix plant-made research and diagnostic reagents for customers in Germany.
- BioCom AfricamajorSouth Africa-based distributor representing Cape Biologix products for African market customers.
- OSB / Precision TechnologyminorIndian distributors for Cape Biologix products serving customers in India and surrounding regions.
- University of Cape TowncoreCape Bio Pharms is a spin-off from University of Cape Town. UCT Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mamokgethi Phakeng involved in project announcements and public statements about partnership.
- Pivotal Scientific LimitedminorOrganizer of Pivotal Links 2023 conference where Cape Biologix presented. Provided opportunity to introduce network to benefits of transient plant-based expression technology.
- International Society for Plant Molecular Farming (ISPMF)minorInternational society providing meeting place for scientists in Plant Molecular Farming field. Cape Biologix featured in ISPMF November newsletter for industry visibility.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Cape Biologix Technologies competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- InVitria (Ventria subsidiary): Producer of animal-component-free recombinant reagents for cell culture and diagnostics. Emerging player addressing the same animal-free regulatory demand as Cape Biologix, but in cell-culture inputs rather than expressed proteins.
- Mapp Biopharmaceutical: US biotech that produced ZMapp (plant-made antibody cocktail for Ebola) using tobacco-plant transient expression. Emerging peer with focused plant-made antibody portfolio comparable in modality.
Direct peers
- PlantForm Corporation: Canadian plant-made biopharmaceutical company using tobacco-plant expression to produce monoclonal antibodies and therapeutic proteins. Direct peer with a nearly identical technology approach and product overlap with Cape Biologix.
- Protalix Biotherapeutics: Israel/US biotech using plant-cell-based (ProCellEx) expression to manufacture recombinant therapeutic proteins. Direct peer in plant-based protein manufacturing with commercial-stage products.
- Kentucky BioProcessing: US-based contract manufacturer using tobacco-plant expression to produce recombinant proteins and antibodies. Direct peer offering contract manufacturing services in plant-based protein production.
- Cape Bio Pharms: Parent company of Cape Biologix; a UCT spin-off developing plant-based vaccines and therapeutics. Direct peer/parent entity sharing the same underlying technology platform and mission.
- iBio Inc. US-based plant-made biopharmaceutical company using transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana. Direct peer with overlapping plant-based protein production technology and target customers.
- Medicago (Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma): Canadian company (now part of Mitsubishi) that uses Nicotiana benthamiana to produce virus-like particle vaccines and recombinant proteins. Direct peer in plant-based biomanufacturing for vaccines and diagnostics.
- Ventria Bioscience: US-based company producing recombinant proteins in rice and other plant systems for life sciences, diagnostics, and therapeutic applications. Direct peer in plant-made recombinant proteins.
Broad incumbents
- AbCellera Biologics: Canadian antibody discovery and manufacturing company. Broad incumbent serving the same life-sciences and diagnostic customers with antibody products, but using hybridoma and B-cell screening rather than plant-based expression.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cape Biologix Technologies social profiles
Digital presenceCape Biologix Technologies financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cape Biologix Technologies leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Cape Biologix Technologies funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cape Biologix Technologies M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cape Biologix Technologies
What does Cape Biologix Technologies do?
Cape Biologix Technologies develops and manufactures plant-made recombinant proteins, including monoclonal antibodies and antigens, for research, diagnostic, and biopharma applications. The company uses its proprietary PtX-Pro™ transient plant expression platform, employing Nicotiana benthamiana plants as single-use biodegradable mini-bioreactors via Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated infiltration. It also offers custom protein development and contract manufacturing services for clients requiring animal-derived component free recombinant proteins.
Is Cape Biologix Technologies a public or private company?
Cape Biologix Technologies is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Cape Biologix Technologies founded?
Cape Biologix Technologies was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cape Biologix Technologies based?
Cape Biologix Technologies is headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Cape Biologix Technologies make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom Protein Development Services and contract Manufacturing.
Who are Cape Biologix Technologies's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are InVitria (Ventria subsidiary) and Mapp Biopharmaceutical. Direct peers are PlantForm Corporation, Protalix Biotherapeutics, Kentucky BioProcessing, Cape Bio Pharms, iBio Inc., Medicago (Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma) and Ventria Bioscience. AbCellera Biologics is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Cape Biologix Technologies have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cape Biologix Technologies.
What industry is Cape Biologix Technologies in?
Cape Biologix Technologies's product category is Recombinant Protein Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAAAB, Recombinant Protein Therapeutics (enzymes, hormones, growth factors), with a secondary code of HLAAAIAC, Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization). Its NAICS code is 325413 and its SIC code is 2835.