iPSC Research Expands – 40+ Companies Offer Research Tools to Scientists

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have become a major focus of scientific research, with over 33,000 publications on the topic currently available on PubMed.gov, the world’s leading database for scientific literature. These cells, which are reprogrammed from differentiated somatic cells back to an embryonic-like state, have opened up new possibilities in regenerative medicine, drug development, and disease modeling. Since the groundbreaking discovery of iPSCs in 2006, the field has seen rapid expansion, with an increasing number of research products and technologies entering the market. To fully understand the competitive landscape of iPSC-based innovations, it is crucial to explore the growing presence of competitors and the advancements made in this dynamic space.

Leading iPSC Research Companies

Today, there are at least 40 companies offering iPSC research products. The change in the number of companies offering iPSC research products increased substantially in the past decade, with new market entrants increasing the number and M&A activity (like Pluriomics and Axiogenesis coming to become Ncardia) dampening it. Other industry acquisitions that merged providers of iPSC research products include Thermo Fisher Scientific’s acquisition of Life Technologies Corporation and ReproCELL’s acquisition of Stemgent, Inc., among several others.

Leading companies specializing in iPSC research products include:

• Ncardia
• ReproCELL
• Axol Bioscience
• FUJIFILM CDI

ReproCELL was established in 2009 as a venture company originating from the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University and was the first company to launch a commercial iPSC product. It released a human iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte product, called “ReproCario.” In September 2017, Axiogenesis AG and Pluriomics B.V. combined forces to create Ncardia, a global authority in cardiac and neural applications of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

While Axol Bioscience was founded in 2012, it has grown substantially over time. Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, Axol Bioscience specializes in human cell culture, providing iPSC-derived cells and iPSC-specific cell culture products and is now a well-known provider of iPSC research products.

FUJFILM CDI established its foothold on the iPSC industry very early, as it was founded in 2004 by Dr. James Thomson at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2007, Dr. Thomson derived iPSC lines from human somatic cells for the first time in 2007. Cellular Dynamics International (CDI) was acquired by FUJIFILM Holdings for $307 million in March 2015. The acquired company now control 800+ patents related to iPSCs, providing it with a highly competitive position from an intellectual property (IP) standpoint.

Companies Selling iPSC Research Products

Below is a list of companies selling iPSC research products, along with a short description of the type of products offered by each.

To learn more about this exciting market, view the “Global Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPS Cell) Industry Report – Market Size, Trends, & Forecasts, 2025.”