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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Akston Establishes Caddo Parish, Louisiana, Manufacturing Operations

03/02/2026
Akston, a biotechnology company focused on animal health, has established manufacturing operations in Shreveport, Louisiana. The $7 million project is expected to create 69 jobs in Caddo Parish.

The company’s new 31,000-square-foot facility, located at BRF’s InterTech Park, will support commercial production and feature cleanrooms for biologics production, quality control laboratories, fill-finish manufacturing capabilities, cold storage, warehousing and administrative space.

“This new facility is a major milestone in our plan to commercialize our USDA-regulated protein therapeutics aimed at addressing unmet needs in pet health,” Akston Co-founder and CEO Todd Zion, Ph.D. said. “It was critical for us to expand our presence right here in the U.S., and we are grateful for the support of the State of Louisiana, BRF and the City of Shreveport. This expands our capabilities and adds to the momentum of the growing animal health industry in the region.”

Founded in Beverly, Massachusetts, Akston is an animal health biotech company focusing on developing protein-based therapies for companion animals. The company has embraced a vertically integrated model that spans research, development and manufacturing, with existing GMP biologics operations for FDA-regulated biologics in Massachusetts. The new Shreveport facility extends that footprint and supports Akston’s commercial-scale manufacturing for its USDA regulated therapeutics.

To support the project the state of Louisiana offered Akston am incentives package that includes participation in the state’s High Impact Jobs program.

“Akston’s decision to expand in Louisiana reinforces the state’s position at the forefront of advanced life sciences, as innovation continues to translate into new industries and new opportunities,” noted Louisiana Economic Development (LED) Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said. “With our economy continuing to diversify, investments like this give emerging industries the staying power needed to grow, compete and create high-wage jobs here in Louisiana.”

Akston Biosciences, Inc. specializing in discovering, developing, and manufacturing innovative protein-based therapeutics specifically for companion animals, including treatments targeting cancer, obesity, chronic pain, dermatitis, and diabetes in pets like dogs and cats. The company leverages its proprietary Ambifect® Fc-fusion protein platform to create long-acting, species-specific biologics designed to improve efficacy, reduce dosing frequency, and expand access to advanced veterinary care.

“BRF is pleased to welcome Akston from the Boston area to the Shreveport Healthcare and Technology Corridor,” added BRF President and CEO John F. George Jr., M.D. “I thank our partners, including the Caddo Parish Industrial Development Board, for helping make this opportunity possible.”

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