Akadeum Life Sciences, a pioneer in buoyancy-based cell separation technology, announced the successful completion of a $20 million+ financing round on June 3, 2025. The funding round was led by Michigan Capital Network, with participation from Arboretum Ventures, NYBC Ventures, and other investors, positioning the company to accelerate growth in the rapidly expanding cell and gene therapy market.
Strategic Timing for Clinical Advancement
The capital infusion comes at a critical juncture for Akadeum, following the recent launch of a GMP-compliant product suite specifically designed for use in clinical trials. This development represents a pivotal step in advancing next-generation cell therapies, as GMP compliance is essential for therapeutic manufacturing. The company has also unveiled the integration capability of its microbubbles with existing cell therapy manufacturing tools, enhancing compatibility with current industry infrastructure.
"We're grateful for the support of our investors, who share our belief in a future where everyone can access transformative cell therapies—a future that requires better cell separation technology to unleash its full potential," said Brandon McNaughton, PhD, CEO and Founder of Akadeum.
Commercial Momentum and Industry Recognition
The funding will primarily support scaling commercial operations and assisting customers entering clinical trials. Akadeum has demonstrated strong industry momentum, attracting interest from leading biopharma companies and manufacturing partners including Catalent, Charles River Laboratories, ElevateBio, and Lonza, who have featured the company's technology in recent conference presentations and poster sessions.
The company's innovative approach has earned industry recognition, recently winning the Disruptor of the Year Award during Advanced Therapies Week. "Akadeum is delivering some of the most innovative and disruptive technologies we've seen in this space," said Paul D'Amato, CEO and Managing Director at Michigan Capital Network. "Word is spreading about Akadeum's platform which is redefining how cells are isolated and prepared for therapeutic use."
Proven Performance Advantages
Akadeum's proprietary flotation-based separation platform has demonstrated measurable performance improvements over conventional cell separation methods. According to Dan Kidle, Managing Partner at Arboretum Ventures, "The data speaks for itself: Akadeum's platform consistently delivers more viable cells, higher yields, and easier workflows compared to conventional methods, which are critical advantages in therapeutic manufacturing."
The technology has already shown therapeutic relevance through successful use in preclinical animal models for cancer treatment and is positioned for broader adoption in human cell therapy pipelines. The company reports seeing adoption driven by high-impact data returning from customers.
Technology Platform and Innovation
As the first company to commercialize flotation-based cell separation, Akadeum has introduced several industry-first innovations including scalable negative selection, multiplex separation, microbubble-based nucleic acid extraction, and what the company describes as the highest-capacity T cell separation chamber ever built. The platform enables more effective, scalable, and gentle cell isolation compared to traditional methods.
The company's commitment to quality, scalability, and preserving cell health is establishing new benchmarks for the industry, according to investors. This performance advantage is described as transformative rather than incremental, driving rapid adoption and commercial momentum in the competitive cell therapy manufacturing landscape.
