Xcellon Biologics Launches Xcellerate Program to Support Early-Stage Biotech Startups
Maryland-based CDMO Xcellon Biologics introduces the Xcellerate Program to provide early-stage biotech companies with reduced-cost development support for complex biologics and antibody-drug conjugates, addressing the funding gap between seed stage and institutional investment.
Xcellon Biologics, a Maryland-based contract development and manufacturing organization, has introduced the Xcellerate Program, an initiative designed to lower the upfront cost and technical barriers for startups developing complex biologics and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The program aims to make high-end development capabilities accessible at a stage when many young companies need them most but can least afford them.
Seed and pre-Series A companies are increasingly expected to generate meaningful proof-of-concept data before attracting institutional investment, often without the infrastructure to do so. Xcellerate provides early-stage companies with structured support across preclinical development, feasibility strategy, proof-of-concept studies, and early CMC planning, all intended to help teams reach IND-enabling milestones more efficiently.
The program offers value-driven services including antibody generation, conjugation chemistry, analytical support, and in vitro testing at reduced or at-cost structures for qualifying startups. The program emphasizes candidate selection strategy, linker-payload evaluation, developability assessments, and early CMC roadmap development.
By integrating proof-of-concept data generation including in vitro cytotoxicity, stability testing, and early toxicology support with CMC strategy, Xcellon is attempting to compress the path between discovery and IND readiness. For startups building in the ADC space, these decisions are particularly consequential, as antibody-drug conjugates combine biologics and cytotoxic payloads, requiring specialized expertise in protein engineering, conjugation chemistry, stability analysis, and manufacturability.
Xcellon Biologics was launched last year and positions itself as a specialized CDMO advancing ADCs and complex biologics through innovative conjugation platforms. The company recently secured a TEDCO Equitech Growth Grant to support its infrastructure buildout.
The company was co-founded by Yuk Chun Chiu, who serves as Chief Operating Officer, alongside Abhishake Chhibber and Thomas Haag as board members. Chiu brings more than 20 years of GMP manufacturing and biopharmaceutical leadership experience, including prior roles at AstraZeneca, Cytovance Biologics, and Bayer, according to the company.