It is hard to believe that only a year ago Axio BioPharma existed as a handful of white-board sketches and late-night calls. Today those ideas have grown into a fully operational laboratory, an expanding team, and a clear path toward transforming how biologics reach the clinic. As we celebrate our first anniversary, I want to share how far we have come, what we have learned, and where we are headed.
Last summer the vision was simple: build a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that makes biologics development faster, more predictable, and more affordable. Traditional development can take years of iterative, trial-and-error experimentation. Axio set out to compress that timeline to weeks and eventually to hours. We do this by combining high-throughput lab automation with a predictive AI platform.
We secured a modest lab space at Forward BIOLABS in Madison and signed the first equipment orders even before our scientists were hired. By November the doors were open and our scientists were running our first projects. That early hustle allowed us to generate the foundational data our AI model needs while immediately offering small-batch protein production to help pay the bills.
Progress over the last twelve months has been rapid:
• Lab operations launched. We went from empty suite to daily protein runs in under eight weeks.
• First revenue project completed. A discovery program delivered ahead of schedule proved our workflow and generated critical training data.
• The launch of the MKLP1 Pro Antibodies. Launch of MKLP1 Pro™ antibodies, providing increased accuracy, broad mammalian coverage, and superior utility in complex research.
• A robust and growing sales pipeline. Dozens of discovery teams are in late-stage discussions to outsource parallel antibody production.
• Growing headcount. We have grown from one person and an idea to 14-person team in less than a year with plans to double this number before the end of the year.
• Data velocity. Our team can now generate hundreds of high-quality purification data points per day, feeding the machine-learning model that will ultimately predict full manufacturing workflows.
Speed matters, but discipline matters more. We resisted the temptation to chase every shiny new project and instead focused on programs that create both revenue and data for our models. That discipline has kept cash burn manageable and ensured each experiment directly contributes to the predictive platform.
We also learned the value of transparency. Early clients understand that we are an emerging player, but they are willing to partner with us because we set clear expectations and communicate openly about timelines, risks, and results. That trust is beginning to translate into repeat business and word-of-mouth referrals.
Finally, culture cannot wait for scale. From day one we set a tone of rapid iteration, data ownership, and cross-functional collaboration. Weekly lab stand-ups, shared dashboards, and a bias toward action keep projects moving even when resources are tight.
The coming year will see Axio move from proof-of-concept to repeatable engine:
• Scale high-throughput manufacturing. We are installing four additional shake-flask manufacturing lines, increasing capacity and enabling parallel processing of up to 2,000 antibodies per week.
• Launch research-grade manufacturing. By mid-year we expect to offer milligram-to-multi-gram batches with a four-week turnaround, meeting the needs of preclinical teams that require larger quantities without the wait times of traditional CDMOs.
• Advance our AI model. Continuous data feeds from client and internal projects will refine our resin-selection algorithm, allowing us to expand beyond Protein A capture into polishing and upstream expression predictions.
• Prepare for GMP. Although clinical manufacturing is slated for 2028, we are already mapping quality systems and facility requirements so that research-grade processes translate smoothly to regulated production when the time is right.
• Stronger strategic partnerships. Discussions are underway with leading resin suppliers and bioprocess vendors to co-develop workflow modules that plug directly into our predictive model.
A company’s first year is equal parts exhilaration and exhaustion. None of this progress would be possible without:
• Our team. Brian, Jakki, David, Tristan, and the entire team embraced uncertainty, worked weekends, and never lost their curiosity.
• Advisors and mentors. Greg, Graham, Alex, Pat, the Merlin Mentors, Bullpen and a host of informal mentors who answered countless emails, often on short notice.
• Investors and partners. Early believers provided the capital and credibility needed to get off the ground. Thank you to every investor and partner who has joined us. Your confidence led us to where we are now and provides the fuel to continue building the future.
• Family and friends. Entrepreneurship is never a solo journey. My wife Samantha and our daughters Claire and Amelia remind me why speed in drug development matters. They keep me grounded and remind me that patients and families are waiting.
• And to my late mother, Elise Byers. Her unwavering belief in our mission and her constant encouragement gave me the resilience to turn ideas and dreams into a real company. Axio would not be here without her.
One year in, our mission is clearer than ever: cut the time between scientific insight and patient impact. We will keep refining our platform, adding capacity, and challenging the status quo of biomanufacturing. If you are developing antibodies and need a faster path from concept to clinic, reach out. If you share our belief that AI can remove years of waste from drug development, consider partnering or collaborating. Together we can make life-saving therapies available sooner and at lower cost.
Here is to the next twelve months of relentless acceleration.