BioLife Solutions Signs Multi-Year Supply Agreement with Qkine Limited to Expand its Product Portfolio into the Rapidly Growing Cytokines Market

Rhea-AI Summary

BioLife Solutions (NASDAQ: BLFS) entered a multi-year supply agreement with Qkine Limited to distribute cytokine and growth factor products for the cell and gene therapy (CGT) market. BioLife obtained exclusive worldwide distribution for specific Qkine products and non-exclusive rights to others. The companies will collaborate to package select Qkine products using BioLife's CellSeal® Connect vial system to support closed and automated CGT workflows. Third-party research cited estimates the global cytokines market at $500 million today, projected to reach $1 billion by 2030 on mid-teens CAGR.

Positive

• Exclusive distribution for specified Qkine cytokine products worldwide
• Portfolio expansion into the fast-growing cytokines and growth factors market
• CellSeal® Connect packaging collaboration enables closed-system CGT workflows
• Access to Qkine R&D and product expertise combined with BioLife's customer reach

Negative

• Limited exclusivity — exclusivity applies only to specific Qkine products, not the full portfolio

News Market Reaction

-3.01%

1 alert

-3.01% News Effect

On the day this news was published, BLFS declined 3.01%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Cytokines market size: $500 million annually Cytokines market 2030: $1 billion

2 metrics

Cytokines market size $500 million annually Current global cytokines market

Cytokines market 2030 $1 billion Projected global cytokines market by 2030

Market Reality Check

Price: $22.23 Vol: Volume 215,125 is 0.59x t...

low vol

$22.23 Last Close

Volume Volume 215,125 is 0.59x the 20-day average of 367,581, suggesting limited pre-news positioning. low

Technical Shares at $22.25 are below the $24.28 200-day MA and 24.88% under the 52-week high, modestly above the 52-week low of $19.10.

Peers on Argus

BLFS was down 1.77% while peers were mixed: STAA +0.37%, AZTA +2.22%, KMTS +0.72...

BLFS was down 1.77% while peers were mixed: STAA +0.37%, AZTA +2.22%, KMTS +0.72%, EMBC -1.47%, PLSE +5.65%. Moves do not indicate a unified sector trend.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 12 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 12	Prelim 2025 revenue	Positive	-3.3%	Preliminary Q4 and 2025 revenue slightly above raised guidance high end.
Nov 20	New facility launch	Positive	-0.7%	Opening of Aby J. Mathew Center to support biopreservation R&D and training.
Nov 17	Conference participation	Neutral	-0.3%	Announcement of participation in multiple late-2025 investor conferences.
Nov 06	Q3 2025 earnings	Positive	-2.0%	Strong Q3 growth, raised 2025 guidance, and completion of evo business sale.
Oct 23	Earnings call date	Neutral	+0.5%	Scheduling of Q3 2025 results release and investor call details.

Pattern Detected

Recent positive or growth-focused announcements have often been followed by modest negative price reactions, indicating a tendency toward sell-the-news or cautious positioning.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, BioLife reported strong growth, with Q3 2025 total revenue of $28.1M (up 31% YoY) and cell processing revenue of $25.4M (up 33% YoY), and raised 2025 revenue guidance to $95.0M–$96.0M. Preliminary 2025 revenue from continuing operations reached $96.2M, slightly above the raised high end. The company also opened the Aby J. Mathew Center for Biopreservation Excellence and remained active at investor conferences. Despite these constructive updates, short-term price reactions were often mildly negative.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement adds a multi-year supply and distribution agreement in cytokines and growth factor...

Analysis

This announcement adds a multi-year supply and distribution agreement in cytokines and growth factors, extending BioLife’s CGT tool portfolio into a global market estimated at $500 million and projected to reach $1 billion by 2030. In the context of recent double-digit revenue growth and facility expansion, investors may watch how quickly Qkine products integrate with CellSeal Connect workflows and how meaningfully this adjacency contributes to cell processing revenue over time.

Key Terms

cytokines, growth factors, cell and gene therapy

3 terms

cytokines medical

"BioLife will distribute certain cytokine and growth factor products manufactured by Qkine"

Small proteins produced by immune and other cells that act as on/off signals or “text messages,” telling cells to ramp up, calm down, grow, or move during infection, injury, or disease. Investors watch cytokines because they are common drug targets and biomarkers—changes in cytokine activity can make a therapy work, cause serious side effects, or determine clinical trial and regulatory outcomes, all of which affect a company’s value.

growth factors medical

"distribute certain cytokine and growth factor products manufactured by Qkine for use"

Growth factors are natural proteins that act like chemical messages, telling cells when to grow, divide, repair, or change function; think of them as traffic signals or instruction notes for cells. They matter to investors because therapies, diagnostics, or lab technologies that harness or mimic these signals can become valuable drugs or tools, affect clinical trial outcomes and regulatory approval, and therefore influence a biotech company’s future revenues and risk profile.

cell and gene therapy medical

"bioproduction tools and services for the cell and gene therapy (CGT) market"

Therapies that use living cells or altered genes to treat or cure disease by repairing, replacing or reprogramming parts of the body; think of it as swapping or reprogramming malfunctioning hardware or software inside the body. Investors watch these treatments closely because they can command high prices and offer one-time or long-lasting benefits, but they also carry big development costs, complex manufacturing and regulatory risks that can cause large swings in a company’s value.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

BOTHELL, Wash., Feb. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- BioLife Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLFS), a leading developer and supplier of bioproduction tools and services for the cell and gene therapy (CGT) market, announces it has entered into a multi-year supply agreement with Qkine Limited under which BioLife will distribute certain cytokine and growth factor products manufactured by Qkine for use in cell and gene therapy manufacturing.

The agreement provides BioLife with exclusive worldwide distribution rights to specific Qkine products for the CGT market and non-exclusive rights to Qkine products in the CGT market. In addition, the companies intend to collaborate on a process development and validation program to enable Qkine to package certain of its products using BioLife's proprietary CellSeal^® Connect vial system, which is designed to be incorporated into closed system and/or automated CGT workflows.

Roderick de Greef, BioLife's Chairman and CEO, commented, "We are pleased to establish this strategic distribution and CellSeal^® Connect product development relationship with Qkine, a recognized leader in the fast-growing cytokines market. Qkine's cytokine products are highly complementary to our cell culture supplement offerings and expand the portfolio of solutions we offer our CGT customers. We have specifically identified cytokines along with other biologically active cell culture media components as attractive, fast-growing and profitable adjacent product categories that align with our long-term growth strategy."

Dr. Robert Scoffin, Qkine's CEO, added "We are excited to partner with BioLife, a well-respected leader in the bioprocessing tools market. This collaboration brings together our expertise in cytokine innovation with BioLife's extensive reach and customer relationships in the CGT market. Together, we aim to deliver greater value to customers and help advance the development and manufacture of next‑generation cell and gene therapies."

Cytokines and growth factors play a vital role in the manufacturing of cell and gene therapies by regulating and stimulating cell growth, activation and performance. According to third-party market research, the current global cytokines market is estimated at $500 million annually and is projected to grow at a mid-teens compound annual rate, reaching $1 billion by 2030, driven by expanding CGT development pipelines.

About Qkine Limited
With headquarters in Cambridge, England, Qkine Limited is dedicated to advancing stem cell and regenerative medicine research by developing high-purity, bioactive growth factors and cytokines. With a focus on scientific rigour and product excellence, Qkine supports cutting-edge biological research and clinical translation worldwide. For more information, please visit www.qkine.com.

About BioLife Solutions
BioLife Solutions is a leading developer and supplier of bioproduction products and services for the cell and gene therapy (CGT) and broader biopharma markets. Our expertise facilitates the commercialization of new therapies by supplying solutions that maintain the health and function of biologic materials during collection, development, storage and distribution. For more information, please visit www.biolifesolutions.com or follow BioLife on LinkedIn and X.

Cautions Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "plans," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "designed," "may," "estimate," "guidance," and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and beliefs, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by the forward-looking statements. A description of certain of these risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in filings we make with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available at www.sec.gov. Because forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results and events may differ materially from results and events currently expected by us. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect any change in its expectations with regard to these forward-looking statements or the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Media & Investor Relations

At the Company
Troy Wichterman
Chief Financial Officer
(425) 402-1400 
twichterman@biolifesolutions.com

Investors
Alliance Advisors IR
Jody Cain
(310) 691-7100
jcain@allianceadvisors.com 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/biolife-solutions-signs-multi-year-supply-agreement-with-qkine-limited-to-expand-its-product-portfolio-into-the-rapidly-growing-cytokines-market-302685840.html

SOURCE BioLife Solutions, Inc.

FAQ

What did BioLife (BLFS) announce on February 12, 2026 about Qkine distribution?

BioLife announced a multi-year agreement to distribute certain Qkine cytokine products worldwide. According to BioLife, the deal gives exclusive worldwide rights for specific products and non-exclusive rights to other Qkine products in the CGT market.

How does the BioLife–Qkine deal affect BioLife's product portfolio and customers?

The agreement expands BioLife's offerings into cytokines and growth factors for CGT manufacturing. According to BioLife, Qkine products complement existing cell culture supplements and broaden solutions for CGT customers and workflows.

What is the CellSeal® Connect collaboration between BioLife and Qkine?

The companies will work to package certain Qkine products using BioLife's CellSeal® Connect vial system. According to BioLife, this aims to enable integration into closed-system and automated CGT workflows.

Does the agreement give BioLife exclusive distribution rights for all Qkine products?

No. BioLife received exclusive worldwide distribution rights only for specific Qkine products and non-exclusive rights for other products. According to BioLife, exclusivity is limited to defined items in the CGT market.

What market opportunity did BioLife cite for cytokines and growth factors?

BioLife referenced third-party research estimating the global cytokines market at $500 million today and projecting growth to $1 billion by 2030. According to BioLife, the market is growing at a mid-teens compound annual rate.