Bengaluru-based Loopworm is shifting its focus from animal feed to the high-value pharmaceutical market. The company, which processes silkworm byproducts, is now targeting the production of diagnostic reagents and enzymes. The profitable startup plans to use upcoming Series A funding to scale operations and offer locally made alternatives to imported biotech materials.
Loopworm Private Ltd, a Bengaluru-based startup, is expanding its business model beyond industrial animal feed to enter the pharmaceutical and diagnostic sectors. The company, which specializes in protein extraction from silkworm cocoon byproducts, is now positioning itself to produce diagnostic reagents and specialty enzymes. This move represents a strategic effort to capture higher-margin opportunities within the biotechnology space.
The company’s core technology, branded as the LoopBac platform, focuses on using silkworm pupae as a biological host to synthesize complex proteins. By leveraging this method, Loopworm aims to provide a cost-effective alternative to traditional, more expensive manufacturing techniques like mammalian cell culture. Currently, many research laboratories and pharmaceutical manufacturers in India import these essential materials from abroad. By indigenizing production, Loopworm seeks to establish a competitive presence in the market while utilizing a raw material supply—silkworm cocoon byproducts—that is abundant in India but historically underused.
Loopworm has already achieved profitability, a notable milestone that precedes its planned Series A funding round. The fresh capital is expected to support the scaling of its technical capabilities and the expansion of its manufacturing infrastructure. The company operates a 6,000 metric tonne per annum facility in Bengaluru, known as the LoopFactory, which is supported by its internal research division, LoopLab. Management has indicated that the firm has successfully produced complex proteins typically found in jellyfish, which serves as a proof of concept for its recombinant technology.
The immediate focus for the company is the diagnostics market, where regulatory pathways are generally considered more straightforward than those for human clinical therapeutics. By targeting diagnostic reagents and viral antigens, Loopworm plans to build its operational track record before exploring longer-term objectives, such as the development of kinases and membrane proteins for custom research. Eventually, the firm aims to enter the vaccine antigen market for both human and veterinary applications.
For investors and industry observers, the key monitorable will be the company’s ability to maintain high quality and purity standards required for pharmaceutical-grade reagents while scaling production. As the company transitions from bulk animal feed to specialized biotech products, it will need to ensure consistent raw material quality and navigate the specific manufacturing complexities of the pharmaceutical supply chain. The company’s success will depend on its ability to effectively scale its pilot-level recombinant facility into a consistent commercial operation capable of competing with established global suppliers.