Our StoryTransforming the Way Therapies Are Delivered
At Likarda, we believe that the full potential of breakthrough therapies is unlocked only when they reach the right place, at the right time, in the right way. That’s why we created Core-Shell Spherification® (CSS), the first and only fully customizable hydrogel encapsulation platform for cell therapies, biologics, and small molecules.
Our proprietary technology is more than a delivery system, it’s a design tool. With a library of 50+ biocompatible hydrogels and tunable release profiles, we work side-by-side with biotech and pharmaceutical companies to:
- Target therapeutics precisely where they’re needed for maximum impact
- Protect cells and molecules from immune attack and harsh environments
- Control release from hours to months to match the therapeutic need
- Enhance stability and logistics, even enabling shipment on dry ice instead of liquid nitrogen
From enabling immune-evasive cell therapies for diabetes, to regenerating cartilage in osteoarthritis, to extending patent life for biologics,
Likarda’s platform has been proven across 40+ cell types and a wide range of therapeutic modalities.
A Founder’s Vision
Science entrepreneur Lisa Stehno-Bittel, PhD founded Likarda after a distinguished career at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where she developed a pioneering 3D cell culture platform to advance next-generation treatments for diabetes. Her research team discovered the power of miniaturized islets, called Kanslets™, for secondary drug testing, and published multiple studies demonstrating their potential.
Likarda began as a contract research organization, serving clients from global pharmaceutical leaders to early-stage startups. We were the first to screen new drugs using 3D clusters of cells in a high-throughput format, reinvesting those revenues into our own R&D. Over time, our innovations in encapsulation technology became so impactful that we shifted our full focus to developing advanced hydrogel delivery systems for our partners.
Science-led. Partner-focused. Market-ready.
Guided by decades of experience in cell therapy, drug delivery, and biotech commercialization, our leadership team combines deep scientific expertise with a practical understanding of manufacturing, regulatory pathways, and market adoption.
Our mission is simple: solve today’s delivery challenges to unlock tomorrow’s cures.