Neion Bio launches Raptor™ biomanufacturing platform after emerging from stealth

USA — Biotechnology startup Neion Bio has stepped out of stealth mode, unveiling a novel biomanufacturing platform and announcing its first co-development and supply agreement with a major global pharmaceutical company.

At the heart of Neion’s technology is the Raptor™ platform, which uses advanced genetic engineering tools to produce recombinant biologics inside eggs.

The company re-engineers these naturally sterile, self-contained structures to express virtually any therapeutic protein, delivering, it says, an order-of-magnitude reduction in production costs compared to conventional manufacturing methods.

Traditional biomanufacturing relies heavily on large steel bioreactors or single-use plastics and has remained largely unchanged for decades.

CEO and co-founder Dimi Kellari argued that this stagnation has created a significant bottleneck—slowing down medical breakthroughs, limiting patient access to existing therapies, and hampering countries’ ability to produce critical medicines domestically.

The Raptor™ platform overcomes these limitations by reducing much of the capital investment linked to cell-culture-based manufacturing, while providing increased scalability and supply resilience.

Harnessing millions of years of evolution

CTO and co-founder Dr. Sam Levin describe the egg as “nature’s most powerful molecular factory,” shaped by millions of years of evolution into a prolific producer of complex proteins.

By tapping into this natural architecture, Neion has built a process that offers more consistent protein expression and tighter manufacturing control than traditional methods.

Recent advances in precision genome engineering, large genomic datasets, and the ability to cultivate avian primordial germ cells (PGCs) enabled the platform.

Dr. Levin also noted that as artificial intelligence continues to accelerate drug design, Neion’s platform provides a faster and more sustainable route to market.

Commercial deal and leadership expansion

The newly announced agreement provides Neion with upfront and milestone payments in the near term, along with profit-sharing arrangements once products reach commercialization.

Notably, the deal falls within the biosimilar space — a segment experiencing rapid regulatory and market shifts.

To lead its commercial strategy, Neion has appointed Ming Li as President of commercial operations.

Li brings over two decades of experience across corporate strategy, business development, and capital markets.

She expressed particular enthusiasm for the biosimilar opportunity, noting that easing clinical requirements and growing investor interest in the sector are tailwinds for Neion’s structural advantages.

The team behind the platform

Founded by Kellari and Dr. Levin, Neion’s multidisciplinary team also includes Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Sven Bocklandt, previously of Colossal Biosciences, where he led genetic engineering central to the firm’s de-extinction research.

The company launched in 2024, backed by approximately USD11 million from a venture consortium led by Caffeinated Capital, with participation from Basis Set Ventures, Haystack VC, and others.