Biotech Duo Rewrites the Rules for Biologic Drug Delivery

Axio and Likarda unite to fast-track biologic drugs by fusing delivery tech with AI-powered protein manufacturing.

12 Jun 2025

A bold new alliance is transforming how biologic drugs are made and delivered. Axio BioPharma and Likarda have joined forces in a partnership that merges cutting-edge production with innovative delivery technology right from the start.

At its core, this collaboration combines Axio’s AI-powered protein manufacturing platform with Likarda’s precision gel-based drug delivery system. Axio’s platform enables intelligent, scalable production of complex biologics like antibodies and protein therapies. Likarda’s system shields fragile drugs, preserving their potency and enhancing their performance inside the body.

By weaving delivery design into early-stage manufacturing, the partnership aims to eliminate the costly setbacks that arise when drug delivery is addressed too late. Traditionally, developers tackle delivery challenges near the end, risking delays, formulation failures, and trial overhauls. Axio and Likarda flip that model entirely.

“This partnership helps our clients address delivery challenges at the earliest possible point,” said a spokesperson from Axio BioPharma. “It’s about more than manufacturing. It’s about ensuring drugs work as intended from day one.”

The benefits are significant. Biotech firms gain a smoother path to clinical trials and regulatory approval, with fewer surprises and reduced risk. By streamlining development, the collaboration could cut both timelines and costs.

For Likarda, the deal opens doors to new applications of its platform in fermentation-based drug programs, including innovative cancer treatments and hormone therapies. Its gel technology, known for preserving drug stability and extending therapeutic effect, now becomes a built-in feature of Axio’s manufacturing offering.

The timing is no coincidence. As biotech companies race to develop next-generation biologics, demand is growing for integrated, end-to-end solutions that combine production and delivery expertise. The Axio and Likarda model may set a new bar for how contract development and manufacturing organizations operate.

Industry observers believe this move could prompt others to rethink their approach. As biologic drugs become more complex, seamless integration may become essential for staying competitive.

If this model proves successful, it could speed innovation, reduce risk, and bring cutting-edge therapies to patients faster. All eyes are now on how quickly this integrated approach delivers.