On Oct. 3, 2012, Takeda Pharmaceutical acquired LigoCyte for an upfront payment of $60 million, with future contingent consideration based on the progress of development projects. LigoCyte was focused on the development of innovative vaccine products based on its proprietary virus-like particle platform (VLP) technology.

LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals was founded in Bozeman by Robert F. Bargatze, Ph.D., and John W. Jutila, Ph.D. from Montana State University.