By Melane Sampson
Closely held Likarda is advancing a novel modality for delivering cellular therapies—a proprietary, customizable hydrogel delivery system engineered for controlled release, immune protection, and high cell viability.
“In cell therapy, the bottleneck is delivery, viability, and logistics, including transportation. Likarda is solving these challenges by innovating a new cell delivery system—a hydrogel that encapsulates cells without triggering immune rejection, allowing them to remain directly on target,” Dr. Stella Vnook, CEO of Likarda, says in an interview with BioTuesdays.
“As a result, we use fewer cells and can actually realize the full therapeutic potential in terms of efficacy,” she adds.
Dr. Vnook emphasizes that Likarda’s technology encapsulates therapies in non-immunogenic polymers—biocompatible beads made from FDA-approved materials—with a sustained release mechanism. This reduces the treatment burden on patients who might otherwise require more frequent dosing.
“With our technology, we can deliver cell therapy to a target tumor and ensure it stays active there for months compared to days with conventional systems—a welcome advantage for both patients and healthcare providers,” she says.
The hydrogel system is flexible and adaptable for various delivery formats—including solid tumor targeting, long-acting injectables, and oral administration. Likarda’s encapsulation technology creates a microenvironment rich in nutrients that cells need to thrive. “We refer to this as viability—cells stay alive and function significantly better in the microenvironment our technology provides.”
Likarda’s delivery system uses ingredients like hyaluronic acid (HA) and PEG, which are biodegradable and naturally metabolized, meaning no surgical removal is required after therapy ends.
Dr. Vnook points out that a critical pain point in the field is the logistics of cell transport, which typically involves liquid nitrogen storage—a method that is expensive, cumbersome, and often inaccessible for smaller companies and clinics.
“We’ve addressed the cold chain problem—which has a lot of people very excited about our technology,” Dr. Vnook says. “Our hydrogels are cryoprotective, allowing cells to be stored and transported on dry ice—a huge advantage as it is easily accessible and very affordable, making it a convenient alternative to liquid nitrogen.”
This breakthrough makes cell therapies more accessible. For example, Likarda began its journey focused on canine Type 1 diabetes and equine osteoarthritis, offering therapies to veterinarians who previously couldn’t afford them due to high storage and transportation costs. “With our hydrogel system, vets can store and transport cell therapies on dry ice. It’s simple, affordable, and accessible,” she says.
“This technology is an exceptional solution for companies in the cell and gene therapy space—many of whom are spending more on transportation than cell manufacturing,” Dr. Vnook contends.
Likarda’s hydrogel platform has been proven across multiple modalities. In one study, the company successfully encapsulated islet cells and implanted them into a dog’s abdomen. After two treatments, the dog no longer required insulin.
With more than 35 clients, numerous patents, and a deep IP portfolio, Dr. Vnook says the company’s goal is to partner with logistics cryopreservation companies—or with drug developers working in cell therapy or biologics—that can benefit from Likarda’s innovative delivery system.
“These companies are facing critical storage and delivery challenges every day. We offer an enabling technology that can solve them.”
Likarda is also partnering with pharmaceutical companies in small molecule and protein drug development, repurposing existing drugs with its platform to enhance sustained release profiles and improve patient outcomes.
“We’re giving these drugs new life—extending the value and improving impact for patients and payers alike,” Dr. Vnook notes.
The company is also piloting a proprietary AI platform to optimize formulation timelines, helping reduce the time required to identify ideal delivery formats.
For Likarda, the future lies in collaboration, scale, and global impact. “There’s so much innovation in therapeutics. Our mission is to combine technology, science, and logistics to bring these innovations to patients faster, and more affordably,” Dr. Vnook says.
“When we collaborate and cross-pollinate knowledge across sectors, we drive faster approvals and better therapeutics. With our innovative technology, we have the ability to reduce dosing frequency, improve delivery, and make therapies economically viable—so patients can actually afford them ten years from now,” she adds.
The company currently has 54 global patents, validated proof of concept, and a growing list of partners. Dr. Vnook says its time to prepare for the next phase: a strategic acquisition or partnership that brings scalability and global distribution.
“Likarda is at an inflection point. We have the proof and validation that our technology works but to truly make a global impact, we need a partner with distribution power, scalability, and a shared vision for differentiated therapeutics—so we have positioned ourselves for an acquisition,” she says.
Likarda is actively seeking a partner that aligns with its vision—a company rethinking drug formulation, delivery, and logistics.
“We’ve cracked the delivery code. We know exactly how many cells are in each bead, how they release over time, and where they go—whether it’s directly to the liver or a tumor,” says Vnook. “People hear that and say, ‘That’s brilliant!’ and I say, ‘Yes, we have it—and it’s available now.’”
Editor’s Note: This article does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of Likarda, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale of any security in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
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