Ichor Life Sciences

Ichor Life Sciences operates as a vertically integrated contract research organization (CRO) and longevity-focused biotechnology company. Founded in May 2013 by Kelsey Moody, the company originated in a living room laboratory in Syracuse, NY, initially funded by a $540K seed grant from the Life Extension Foundation. Dr. Moody, who was attending medical school at SUNY Upstate at the time, withdrew after his second year to dedicate himself to the company full-time, leveraging his background with a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology and an MBA in risk management.

The firm provides end-to-end preclinical and clinical trial services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical clients. Its business model is centered on offering customized research programs that guide clients from the discovery phase through pharmacology and into clinical trials. Revenue is generated by providing these contract research services, which allows the company to function as an extension of its clients' research teams. Ichor Life Sciences serves a range of therapeutic areas, including oncology, metabolic disease, geriatrics, ophthalmology, and musculoskeletal disease.

The company's offerings are structured into several divisions. Ichor Discovery provides protein manufacturing, structural biology, and biophysics expertise. Ichor Pharmacology handles in-vitro testing, histology, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD), and in vivo toxicology and efficacy studies. In late 2023, the company launched Ichor Clinical Trial Services, expanding its capabilities to support clients through late-stage clinical trials and FDA approval. This expansion was a strategic move to offer a unified partnership for the entire drug development pipeline. The company's facilities in Syracuse, NY, include an AAALAC-accredited vivarium with capabilities for in vivo imaging, x-ray irradiation, and complete surgical procedures. A key part of its strategy involves growth through acquisition, such as the 2020 purchase of Woodland Biosciences, which enhanced its expertise in oncology and metabolic diseases.

In addition to its CRO services, Ichor Life Sciences actively develops its own therapies aimed at treating age-related diseases. The firm operates as a venture studio, creating and investing in portfolio companies that focus on specific aging pathways, such as enzyme therapy (Lysoclear, Inc.), senolytics (FoxBio, Inc.), and small molecule discovery (Antoxerene, Inc.). This dual focus as both a service provider and a drug developer provides the company with a distinct perspective on the challenges within the pharmaceutical industry. The company also fosters scientific talent through a unique PhD program in partnership with SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), offering students hands-on industry experience in drug development. Keywords: contract research organization, CRO services, preclinical research, clinical trial services, drug discovery, longevity biotechnology, aging research, Kelsey Moody, pharmacology services, protein manufacturing, structural biology, biophysics, in-vitro testing, in vivo studies, toxicology, oncology research, metabolic disease, geriatrics, ophthalmology, musculoskeletal disease, venture studio, enzyme therapy, senolytics, small molecule discovery, AAALAC accredited vivarium, pharmaceutical services, drug development pipeline