Austrian Biotech Startup LifeTaq Collapses After Bold Bid to End Animal Testing
LifeTaq, an Austrian biotech startup focused on replacing animal testing in drug research, has filed for insolvency. The company had aimed to revolutionize pharmaceutical testing with its automated 3D tissue culture technology. Despite securing public funding and a successful crowdfunding push, financial struggles ultimately forced its closure.
Founded to develop ethical alternatives to animal testing, LifeTaq created a fully automated machine for growing 3D tissue models. The technology promised a more humane and scientifically advanced approach to drug research.
The startup received significant backing, including €3.5 million from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG). It also ran a crowdfunding campaign on Rockets, raising over €300,000 from public supporters. These funds were meant to support commercial scaling, with projections of €4 million in earnings by 2027 from just four machine sales.
However, the company's financial health worsened over time. Credit protection agencies KSV1870 and AKV determined that continuing operations was no longer feasible. With no viable path forward, LifeTaq officially filed for bankruptcy.
The insolvency marks the end of LifeTaq's mission to eliminate animal testing in pharmaceutical research. The company had secured both institutional and public funding but could not sustain its operations. Its closure leaves a gap in the development of alternative testing technologies.
