AbCellera
AbCellera is a Vancouver-based biotechnology company that discovers and develops antibody therapeutics through single-cell analysis, microfluidics, high-throughput experimentation, and computational technologies.
Last updated October 24, 2026
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Overview
AbCellera is a Canadian biotechnology company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, focused on discovering and developing antibody therapeutics. Its principal capability is a technology platform that analyzes individual antibody-producing cells and combines experimental biology with microfluidics, high-throughput screening, data processing, and machine-learning methods. The platform is intended to help identify useful antibodies quickly from immune-cell samples and other biological sources, then support their progression toward therapeutic development. The company primarily operates as a drug-discovery and development partner rather than as a conventional pharmaceutical business built around a broad portfolio of marketed medicines. AbCellera works with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies on antibody programs, contributing discovery capabilities and, depending on the agreement, participating in downstream economics associated with successful programs. Its business therefore combines platform-based research services, collaboration income, milestone-related opportunities, and potential royalty or commercial participation. The model exposes AbCellera to the long timelines and uncertainties of clinical development, regulatory review, manufacturing, and commercialization. AbCellera’s technology originated from single-cell antibody-discovery research developed at the University of British Columbia. The company was founded in 2012 by biomedical researchers including Carl Hansen, Véronique Lecault, Kevin Heyries, Daniel Da Costa, Kathleen Lisaingo, and Oleh Petriv. It subsequently attracted research funding and commercial partnerships, including work supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and a collaboration with Pfizer announced in 2017. A Series A financing round was completed in 2018, followed by a larger Series B round in 2020. The company became especially prominent through its role in the Pandemic Prevention Platform, a program associated with the Biological Technologies Office of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. During the COVID-19 pandemic, AbCellera worked with Eli Lilly and Company on the discovery and development of bamlanivimab, an antibody treatment that received U.S. emergency authorization in 2020. A related antibody, bebtelovimab, received emergency authorization in 2022 before its authorization was revoked later that year as circulating SARS-CoV-2 subvariants were no longer expected to respond adequately. These developments demonstrated both the speed potential of AbCellera’s discovery model and the vulnerability of antibody products to viral evolution. AbCellera became a publicly traded company on Nasdaq in 2020 under the ticker ABCL. After its listing, it continued expanding partnerships and developing internal or partnered therapeutic programs. A multiyear agreement with Moderna announced in 2021 concerned the development of mRNA-based antibody treatments against multiple diseases. The company has also pursued programs in areas including respiratory infection, autoimmune disease, dermatology, and women’s health. In 2025, Health Canada authorized Phase 1 studies for ABCL635, targeting NK3R for menopausal vasomotor symptoms, and ABCL575, targeting OX40 ligand for atopic dermatitis. AbCellera also reported that ABCL688, directed at an undisclosed target associated with autoimmune disease, had entered enabling work ahead of a planned Phase 1 study. Its present identity is therefore that of a publicly listed antibody-discovery technology company with both partnership-driven and internally advanced therapeutic programs.
History
AbCellera was founded in Vancouver in 2012 by biomedical researchers Carl Hansen, Véronique Lecault, Kevin Heyries, Daniel Da Costa, Kathleen Lisaingo, and Oleh Petriv. The company grew from single-cell antibody-discovery research initially developed at the University of British Columbia. Its central premise was that drug developers could identify useful antibodies more efficiently by examining individual antibody-producing cells and integrating biological screening with microfluidics, automation, and computational analysis. During its early development, AbCellera pursued both platform development and externally supported research. In 2016, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provided a US$645,000 grant for work on a tuberculosis test. In January 2017, AbCellera announced a collaboration with Pfizer to discover and develop antibodies against undisclosed membrane-protein targets. The company closed a reported US$10 million Series A round in 2018 and a reported US$105 million Series B round in 2020. AbCellera became particularly visible through its participation in the Pandemic Prevention Platform, a program of the Biological Technologies Office of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The initiative emphasized rapid discovery of medical countermeasures. During the COVID-19 pandemic, AbCellera worked with Eli Lilly to identify and advance LY-CoV555, later called bamlanivimab. A Phase 1 trial began in 2020, and the antibody received U.S. emergency authorization in November of that year. The FDA later renewed the authorization in early 2021 but revoked it in April 2021 after emerging viral variants substantially reduced the treatment’s expected effectiveness. A second antibody, bebtelovimab, received U.S. emergency authorization in February 2022. The U.S. government announced a purchase commitment for up to 600,000 doses, reported at US$720 million. The authorization was revoked in November 2022 because newer SARS-CoV-2 subvariants were not expected to be sufficiently susceptible. These episodes established AbCellera’s role in rapidly identifying antibody candidates while also illustrating the regulatory and commercial risks of products aimed at a changing pathogen. In 2020, AbCellera became a Nasdaq-listed public company under the ticker ABCL. It continued to build a partnership network and broaden the scope of its discovery work. In 2021, the company announced a multiyear agreement with Moderna involving mRNA-based antibody treatments for multiple diseases. In 2022, the Gates Foundation awarded AbCellera a further US$1.5 million grant to identify monoclonal antibodies against respiratory syncytial virus. Alongside partnered research, AbCellera has advanced internal or substantially controlled therapeutic programs. In 2025, Health Canada authorized Phase 1 testing of ABCL635, an NK3R-targeting antibody intended for moderate-to-severe menopausal vasomotor symptoms, and ABCL575, an OX40-ligand-targeting antibody for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. The company also reported that ABCL688, aimed at an undisclosed autoimmune-disease target associated with a GPCR or ion channel, had entered IND-enabling studies, with Phase 1 testing expected in 2026. AbCellera’s history is consequently defined by the development of a high-throughput antibody-discovery platform, collaborations with major drug companies, rapid pandemic-response work, public listing, and gradual expansion into internally advanced therapeutic candidates.
- 2025
ABCL635 and ABCL575 enter Phase 1 development
[2]Health Canada authorizes Phase 1 trials for ABCL635 in menopausal vasomotor symptoms and ABCL575 in atopic dermatitis.
- 2025
ABCL688 enters IND-enabling work
[2]ABCL688 advances into studies supporting a future clinical trial for an autoimmune-disease target.
- 2022
Bebtelovimab authorization and later withdrawal
[1]Bebtelovimab receives U.S. emergency authorization in February, which is revoked in November as newer subvariants become resistant or insufficiently susceptible.
- 2021
Bamlanivimab authorization is revoked
[1]The FDA withdraws emergency authorization after reduced activity against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants changes the benefit-risk assessment.
- 2021
Moderna partnership
[1]AbCellera and Moderna announce a multiyear agreement involving mRNA-based antibody treatments.
- 2020
Series B financing and public listing
[3]AbCellera closes a reported US$105 million Series B round and becomes publicly traded on Nasdaq under ABCL.
- 2020
Bamlanivimab enters clinical testing
[1]A Phase 1 study begins for LY-CoV555, later known as bamlanivimab, in collaboration with Eli Lilly.
- 2018
Series A financing
[1]The company closes a reported US$10 million Series A financing round.
- 2017
Pfizer collaboration
[1]AbCellera announces a collaboration with Pfizer focused on antibody discovery against undisclosed membrane-protein targets.
- 2016
Tuberculosis research grant
[1]The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grants AbCellera US$645,000 for development of a tuberculosis test.
Products and positioning
A technology-led antibody-discovery platform and development partner for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
Biotechnology platform
Antibody Discovery Platform
AbCellera’s core discovery system combines single-cell analysis, microfluidic experimentation, high-throughput screening, automation, and computational methods. It is used to locate and characterize antibodies from immune cells or other biological samples and to help biopharmaceutical partners select candidates for further engineering and development.
COVID-19 antibody therapeutic · 2020
Bamlanivimab (LY-CoV555)
Bamlanivimab was an anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody discovered and developed by AbCellera and Eli Lilly. It entered a Phase 1 study in 2020 and received U.S. emergency authorization, but the FDA revoked that authorization in 2021 after emerging variants substantially reduced its expected effectiveness.
COVID-19 antibody therapeutic · 2022
Bebtelovimab
Bebtelovimab was a later SARS-CoV-2 antibody program associated with AbCellera and Eli Lilly. It received U.S. emergency authorization in 2022, accompanied by a U.S. government purchase commitment, and the authorization was withdrawn later that year because newer viral subvariants were not expected to respond adequately.
Clinical-stage antibody therapeutic · 2025
ABCL635
ABCL635 is an antibody targeting NK3R and intended for moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause. Health Canada authorized a Phase 1 trial in 2025, and the first patient was reported to have been dosed in August 2025.
Clinical-stage antibody therapeutic · 2025
ABCL575
ABCL575 is an antibody targeting OX40 ligand and being developed for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Health Canada authorized a Phase 1 clinical trial in 2025, with first dosing reported in August of that year.
Preclinical antibody therapeutic · 2025
ABCL688
ABCL688 is an antibody program directed at an undisclosed GPCR or ion-channel target associated with autoimmune disease. AbCellera reported in 2025 that the program had entered IND-enabling studies, with Phase 1 testing expected in 2026.
Controversies
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Pandemic Prevention Platform
United States · Global
AbCellera participated in the Pandemic Prevention Platform associated with DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office. The initiative sought to accelerate discovery of medical countermeasures, and the company’s single-cell antibody platform was used in work that contributed to rapid identification of COVID-19 antibody candidates.
Outcome. Raised AbCellera’s profile in pandemic-response biotechnology and contributed to the bamlanivimab program.
Brand decisions
2025
Move ABCL635 and ABCL575 into Phase 1 trialsGeneration changeBackground
AbCellera continued shifting from a platform-centered business toward advancing selected internal or partnered therapeutic candidates.
Action taken
Following Health Canada authorization, the company initiated Phase 1 development of ABCL635 for menopausal vasomotor symptoms and ABCL575 for atopic dermatitis.
Aftermath
Both programs entered early clinical development, while their ultimate safety, efficacy, regulatory, and commercial outcomes remained uncertain.
2022
Advance bebtelovimab for emergency COVID-19 useProduct launchBackground
Bebtelovimab was developed as an antibody option intended to retain activity against circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants at the time.
Action taken
The antibody received U.S. emergency authorization, and the U.S. government committed to purchase up to 600,000 doses.
Aftermath
The FDA revoked authorization in November 2022 after newer subvariants were no longer expected to be adequately susceptible.
U.S. government purchase commitment. Up to US$720 million for up to 600,000 doses (2022)
2021
Enter a multiyear collaboration with ModernaStrategyBackground
AbCellera sought to extend its partnership model beyond individual discovery programs and apply its capabilities to additional therapeutic areas and modalities.
Action taken
AbCellera and Moderna announced a multiyear agreement to develop mRNA-based antibody treatments against multiple diseases.
Aftermath
The agreement expanded AbCellera’s disclosed strategic relationship base and connected its discovery platform with Moderna’s mRNA capabilities.
2020
Advance bamlanivimab into clinical developmentProduct launchBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic created an urgent need for antibody treatments and rapid clinical evaluation of promising SARS-CoV-2 candidates.
Action taken
AbCellera and Eli Lilly advanced LY-CoV555, later called bamlanivimab, into a Phase 1 study and subsequently pursued emergency authorization.
Aftermath
Bamlanivimab received U.S. emergency authorization in 2020, but the authorization was revoked in 2021 after emerging variants reduced expected effectiveness.
Recent events
Moderna and AbCellera launch antibody-development collaboration[5]
Reported:
Moderna and AbCellera announced a collaboration to develop mRNA-encoded antibody drugs, combining Moderna’s mRNA platform with AbCellera’s antibody discovery platform. AbCellera’s platform will identify antibodies against up to six targets selected by Moderna.
- Unconfirmed
AbCellera acquires the OrthoMab platform[6]
Reported:
AbCellera acquired full rights to the OrthoMab bispecific platform from Dualogics under an asset purchase agreement.
AbCellera files patent infringement lawsuit against Berkeley Lights[4]
Reported:
AbCellera filed a lawsuit against Berkeley Lights alleging infringement of eight U.S. patents and seeking declaratory relief, damages and a permanent injunction.
EpiVax licenses ISPRI toolkit to AbCellera[7]
Reported:
EpiVax announced that it licensed its ISPRI in silico immunogenicity screening toolkit to AbCellera, which plans to use it in its antibody discovery programs.
AbCellera and Lilly enter multi-year antibody discovery collaboration[8]
Reported:
AbCellera announced that it had entered a multi-year strategic research collaboration and license agreement with Eli Lilly and Company to discover antibodies for up to nine Lilly-selected therapeutic targets. Lilly will have rights to develop and commercialize resulting therapeutic products.
Sources8 sources
- 1AbCelleraen.wikipedia.org
- 2AbCellera official websiteabcellera.com
- 3AbCellera investor relationsir.abcellera.com
- 4AbCellera files patent infringement lawsuit against Berkeley Lightsbctechnology.com
- 5Moderna与AbCellera启动抗体开发合作genengnews.com
- 6AbCellera收购OrthoMab平台pharmaceutical-business-review.com
- 7EpiVax向AbCellera授权ISPRI工具包prnewswire.com
- 8AbCellera与Lilly达成多年抗体发现合作financialpost.com
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