Company Description
BioLife Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLFS) is a life sciences company that develops, manufactures, and markets bioproduction products and services for the cell and gene therapy ("CGT") and broader biopharma markets. The company describes itself as a developer and supplier of cell processing tools and services and bioproduction products and services that are designed to improve quality and reduce risk in biologic manufacturing, distribution, storage, and transportation.
According to company disclosures, BioLife focuses on supplying solutions that help maintain the health and function of biologic materials during collection, development, manufacturing, storage, and distribution. These capabilities are positioned to support the commercialization of new CGT and biopharma therapies by helping customers preserve sensitive cells and tissues throughout complex workflows.
Business focus and product platforms
BioLife Solutions reports that it provides solutions in areas such as Cell Processing, Cold Chain, and Thawing. The company has stated that it generates a majority of its revenue from Cell Processing, including its biopreservation product franchise. In prior descriptions, BioLife has highlighted its CryoStor biopreservation media as a key product in this area.
More recent company communications emphasize BioLife as a cell processing tools and services provider for the CGT market, with a focus on high-value, recurring revenue franchises. BioLife has described its portfolio as a cell processing product portfolio that includes biopreservation media and other cell processing tools. The company has also referenced products such as CellSeal vials and hPL products in relation to their use in clinical trials and approved therapies.
BioLife has indicated that its biopreservation media is utilized in a large number of commercially sponsored clinical trials in the United States and that it is embedded in multiple commercial CGT therapies. The company has also reported that its CellSeal cryogenic vials and hPL products are incorporated into certain approved therapies and are used in additional clinical programs.
Position in the cell and gene therapy ecosystem
In its public communications, BioLife Solutions characterizes itself as a pure-play cell processing company following the divestiture of certain non-core businesses. The company has stated that it completed the divestiture of its evo cold chain logistics subsidiary and previously completed divestitures of Global Cooling, Inc., SciSafe, Inc., and Custom Biogenic Systems. BioLife presents these transactions as steps that streamlined its operations around core cell processing activities.
BioLife also reports that it has pursued strategic transactions to strengthen its scientific and product capabilities. For example, the company has disclosed that it acquired the remaining shares of PanTHERA CryoSolutions, Inc., a developer of cryopreservation solutions based on proprietary ice recrystallization inhibitor ("IRI") technology, and that this technology is being incorporated into the development of next-generation cryopreservation products. In addition, BioLife has reported a strategic investment in Pluristyx, Inc., a developer of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based products for cell therapy developers, describing this as an adjacency to its existing product portfolio.
Facilities and biopreservation center
BioLife Solutions has announced the opening of the Aby J. Mathew Center for Biopreservation Excellence at its expanded headquarters in Bothell, Washington. The company describes this center as a conference and laboratory facility that showcases its product portfolio and serves as a research and training hub to advance biopreservation and cell processing methods. According to BioLife, the center focuses on optimizing biopreservation processes, offering customized training programs, hosting customer workshops, and conducting internal research to generate applications data for current and pipeline products.
The company has stated that the center will also support internal research on next-generation cryopreservation products that incorporate the IRI technology acquired through PanTHERA. BioLife positions this facility as a hub for collaboration with customers and industry partners and as a resource for building biopreservation and cell processing best practices.
Customer use in clinical and commercial settings
In its financial and business updates, BioLife Solutions reports that its biopreservation media is used in a significant number of ongoing, commercially sponsored clinical trials in the United States, including late-stage trials. The company has also disclosed that its media is embedded in a set of unique commercial CGT therapies, and that its CellSeal vials and hPL products are used in additional clinical trials and approved therapies.
BioLife highlights these embedded uses as evidence of recurring demand, noting that customers with approved commercial therapies contribute meaningfully to its biopreservation media revenue. The company describes its products as being "spec'd in" to clinical and commercial workflows, which it associates with recurring revenue characteristics.
Corporate structure, exchange listing, and governance
BioLife Solutions, Inc. is incorporated in Delaware and its common stock trades on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol BLFS, as reflected in its SEC filings and press releases. The company is classified in the Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing industry within the broader Manufacturing sector.
Recent SEC filings, including a definitive proxy statement and current reports on Form 8-K, indicate that BioLife continues to operate as a public company with an active board of directors and regular annual meetings of stockholders. These filings cover matters such as the election of directors, advisory votes on executive compensation, and ratification of the company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
Strategic focus and portfolio evolution
Based on its public statements, BioLife Solutions has been reshaping its portfolio to emphasize cell processing tools and services. The company has reported divestitures of certain cold chain logistics and related businesses and has described the resulting profile as centered on its highest-value, recurring revenue franchises in cell processing.
At the same time, BioLife has disclosed investments and acquisitions aimed at enhancing its scientific capabilities in biopreservation and cryopreservation, including the PanTHERA IRI technology and the investment in Pluristyx. These steps are presented by the company as reinforcing its position in biopreservation and as expanding its presence in adjacent areas relevant to CGT developers.
Geographic revenue and market reach
In prior descriptions, BioLife Solutions has indicated that it generates the majority of its revenue from the United States. The company also references participation in investor conferences in multiple locations and collaboration with customers and partners in the CGT and biopharma markets, but specific geographic breakdowns beyond this statement are not detailed in the provided materials.
Use of non-GAAP measures and financial communication
BioLife’s financial press releases describe the use of both GAAP and non-GAAP measures, including adjusted gross margin, adjusted operating income or loss, adjusted net income or loss, EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA. The company states that it uses these measures internally to evaluate operating performance and for planning and forecasting, and that it provides reconciliations to GAAP results in its financial disclosures.
FAQs about BioLife Solutions (BLFS)
- What does BioLife Solutions, Inc. do?
BioLife Solutions develops, manufactures, and markets bioproduction products and services for the cell and gene therapy and broader biopharma markets. The company focuses on cell processing tools and services, biopreservation media, and related solutions that help maintain the health and function of biologic materials during collection, development, manufacturing, storage, and distribution.
- What industry and sector is BLFS in?
BioLife Solutions is classified in the Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing industry within the Manufacturing sector.
- On which exchange does BLFS trade?
BioLife Solutions’ common stock trades on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol BLFS, as indicated in the company’s press releases and SEC filings.
- What are BioLife’s main product and service areas?
The company reports product and service areas that include Cell Processing, Cold Chain, and Thawing. It also highlights biopreservation media, CellSeal vials, and hPL products as part of its cell processing product portfolio.
- How does BioLife describe its role in the CGT market?
BioLife describes itself as a developer and supplier of cell processing tools and services for the CGT market, with expertise that facilitates the commercialization of new therapies by helping maintain the health and function of biologic materials throughout key stages of the therapy lifecycle.
- What is meant by BioLife being a “pure-play cell processing company”?
In recent communications, BioLife has stated that, following the divestiture of its evo cold chain logistics business and other subsidiaries, it is positioned as a pure-play cell processing company. This refers to a strategic focus on cell processing tools and services and related recurring revenue franchises.
- How are BioLife’s products used in clinical trials and therapies?
BioLife reports that its biopreservation media is used in a large number of ongoing, commercially sponsored clinical trials in the United States, including late-stage trials, and that it is embedded in multiple commercial CGT therapies. The company also states that its CellSeal vials and hPL products are used in additional clinical trials and approved therapies.
- What is the Aby J. Mathew Center for Biopreservation Excellence?
BioLife has opened the Aby J. Mathew Center for Biopreservation Excellence at its headquarters in Bothell, Washington. The company describes this center as a conference and laboratory facility that showcases its product portfolio and serves as a hub for research, training, customer workshops, and collaboration focused on biopreservation and cell processing.
- What recent strategic transactions has BioLife disclosed?
BioLife has disclosed the sale of its evo cold chain logistics subsidiary and earlier divestitures of Global Cooling, Inc., SciSafe, Inc., and Custom Biogenic Systems. It has also reported acquiring the remaining shares of PanTHERA CryoSolutions, Inc. to obtain IRI cryopreservation technology and making a strategic investment in Pluristyx, Inc. through the purchase of convertible notes.
- Where can investors find official information about BLFS?
Investors can review BioLife Solutions’ official information in its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, and proxy statements, as well as in company-issued press releases. These documents provide details on the company’s operations, governance, and financial performance.