What Zedira GmbH does

Zedira GmbH is a privately held German biotech company headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany, founded in 2007 and led by managing partners Dr. Martin Hils and Dr. Ralf Pasternack. The company is a niche specialist in transglutaminase biology, building and selling recombinant transglutaminase enzymes, isoforms across species (human Factor XIII, TG1–TG7, microbial MTG), antibodies (polyclonal/monoclonal across TG isoforms and gliadin), proprietary inhibitor compounds (DON, Michael acceptors, imidazolium derivatives, tridegin), fluorogenic and photometric assay kits (ZediXcite, ZediXclusive, ZediXplore, MTG-ANiTA), gluten-donor and amine-donor substrate peptides (including the Hitomi series), and site-specific protein-labeling kits and services. Its technology platform spans recombinant protein engineering, proprietary inhibitor chemistry, and activity-assay development, with branded proprietary products including Andracon® recombinant MTG for site-specific antibody-drug-conjugate production and Open tTG™ open-conformation antigen for celiac disease serology.

Zedira serves three customer segments: pharmaceutical and biotech R&D teams (with named enterprise customers including Novo Nordisk, Sanofi-Aventis, CHDI Foundation, and EyeSense), academic and clinical researchers in transglutaminase biology (supported via Cardiff University collaboration and conference sponsorships), and, indirectly through licensing, the celiac disease patient population via its first-in-class oral TG2 inhibitor drug candidate ZED1227 (formerly ZED-101). The company generates revenue through four streams: (1) direct e-commerce sales of specialty reagents, kits, and antibodies via zedira.com with Euro-denominated, VAT-exclusive pricing and 20-day invoice terms under GTCs restricted to scientific research use; (2) custom fee-for-service TGase protein-labeling services using the Andracon® MTG platform; (3) pharmaceutical licensing and co-development income from ZED1227 via Dr. Falk Pharma (Europe, since 2011) and Takeda (global, since 2022); and (4) non-dilutive German government grant funding from BMBF and the CI3 excellence cluster. Its business development is event- and content-driven, relying on technical blogs, scientific newsletters, conference presence (ICDS, FEBS, Gordon Research Conferences, GTH, MEDICA, World ADC), and a freemium TGase Starter Kit for new researchers. The company's market posture is "ISO 9001:2015 certified specialty reagent supplier with a clinical-stage internal drug pipeline."

Name

Zedira GmbH

Legal name

ZEDIRA GmbH

Website

https://zedira.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zedira GmbH is a privately held German biotech company that develops and sells recombinant transglutaminase enzymes, antibodies, assay kits, and proprietary inhibitor compounds to pharmaceutical R&D teams and academic researchers studying celiac disease, blood coagulation, fibrosis, and antibody-drug-conjugate bioconjugation, with a clinical-stage drug candidate (ZED1227) out-licensed to Takeda and Dr. Falk Pharma.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Biotechnology Reagents

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Immunology & Inflammation Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAD)

Keywords

• Transglutaminase reagents
• Recombinant enzymes
• Celiac disease therapy
• Protein labeling kits
• Enzyme activity assays

Headquarters

HQ city

Darmstadt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Specialty reagent and assay kit product sales: Direct sales of recombinant transglutaminases (Factor XIII, TG1–TG7, Andracon® MTG), antibodies (polyclonal/monoclonal to TG1–TG7, FXIII, gliadin), assay kits (ZediXcite fluorogenic, ZediXclusive photometric, ZediXplore EasyGel), inhibitor compounds (DON, Michael acceptors, tridegin), substrates and protein-labeling reagents via Zedira's own web storefront and Cart/checkout, with prices quoted in Euro, net of VAT, and shipped from Darmstadt.
2. Pharmaceutical licensing and co-development royalties: Out-licensing of drug candidate ZED1227 (originally ZED-101) to Dr. Falk Pharma for celiac disease, extended by a 2019 Collaboration and Licensing Agreement with Takeda and Dr. Falk Pharma to develop a first-in-class celiac disease therapy; revenue potential includes upfront, milestone, and royalty components typical of pharma licensing deals.
3. Custom TGase Labeling Service: Fee-for-service enzymatic protein labeling and custom transglutaminase-based conjugation (e.g., biotin, dyes, PEG, click handles) using Zedira's MTG platform for external customers.
4. Government and public grant funding: Non-dilutive funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMBF) for development of FXIIIa blockers for thromboprophylaxis and for transglutaminase blockers for diabetic nephropathy, plus CI3 excellence cluster subsidy funding with Dr. Falk Pharma and University of Mainz Hospital for celiac disease clinical development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Zedira GmbH manufactures and sells specialty transglutaminase research reagents — recombinant human, animal and microbial transglutaminases (FXIII, TG1–TG7, Andracon® MTG), isoform-specific polyclonal/monoclonal antibodies, fluorogenic and photometric activity assay kits (ZediXcite, ZediXclusive), protein-labeling kits, inhibitors (DON compounds, Michael acceptor peptidomimetics, tridegin) and recombinant gliadin antigens. It also develops the first-in-class oral transglutaminase 2 (TG2) inhibitor drug candidate ZED1227, licensed to Dr. Falk Pharma and co-developed with Takeda for celiac disease and NAFLD.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Andracon®: Recombinant microbial transglutaminase (MTG) product line for site-specific protein conjugation and bio-crosslinking.
• Open tTG™
• ZediXcite
• ZediXclusive
• ZediXplore
• MTG-ANiTA-KIT
• ZED1227
• ZED1301
• TGase Starter Kit

Products and services

• Andracon® Recombinant Microbial Transglutaminase (MTG) Recombinant microbial transglutaminase (MTG) sold as a research reagent for site-specific antibody-drug-conjugate (ADC) production, bio-crosslinking, and enzymatic protein labeling without requiring antibody engineering.
• ZED1227 — Oral Tissue Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) Inhibitor Investigational small-molecule oral inhibitor of tissue transglutaminase 2 (TG2) in Phase 2b clinical development for celiac disease and Phase 2a for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); out-licensed to Dr. Falk Pharma with Takeda as global commercial partner.
• Open tTG™ (Recombinant Human TG2 Open Conformation) Recombinant human tissue transglutaminase (TG2, product code T051) stabilized in an open/active conformation, sold as an ELISA coating antigen with reported superior performance for celiac disease serology versus closed-conformation tTG.
• Recombinant Human & Animal Transglutaminase Enzymes Purified recombinant transglutaminases across the full TG family — Factor XIII (A2 and B subunits, Val34Leu mutant), TG1 (keratinocyte), TG2 (tissue), TG3 (epidermal), TG4 (prostate), TG5, TG6 (neuronal), TG7 — and microbial TGase variants across human, mouse, rat, dog, pig, cat, guinea pig, and cynomolgus species.
• ZediXcite Fluorogenic Assay Kits Fluorogenic activity assay kits (ZediXcite 330/418 and 360/460 variants) using internally quenched Abz/DNS peptide substrates for high-sensitivity detection of FXIII, TG2, and MTG activity in automated and clinical formats.
• ZediXclusive Photometric Assay Kits (MTG, Tissue TG2) Photometric activity assay kits for microbial transglutaminase (Z009) and tissue transglutaminase (Z010), used as research reagents for isopeptidase activity quantification.
• ZediXclusive TG6-ab ELISA (IgA / IgG) ELISA kits (E103 IgA, E104 IgG) for detection of autoantibodies against neuronal transglutaminase (TG6), supporting celiac disease and gluten-sensitive neurological disorder diagnostics.
• Microbial Transglutaminase (MTG) ELISA ELISA kit (E021) for quantitative detection of microbial transglutaminase (MTG), used in food safety and research applications.
• Transglutaminase Antibodies Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against Factor XIII (and B-subunit, D-dimers), Transglutaminases 1–7, microbial transglutaminase, wheat gliadin (clones XGY1–XGY24), deamidated gliadin, and the Nε-(γ-L-glutamyl)-L-lysine isopeptide bond; many available FITC- or biotin-labeled.
• Transglutaminase Inhibitors Research-grade transglutaminase inhibitors including irreversible DON compounds (Z-DON, Boc-DON), 2-[(2-oxopropyl)thio]imidazolium derivatives, Tridegin (FXIIIa inhibitor), Michael acceptor peptidomimetics such as ZED1301, and Keillor TG2 acrylamide inhibitors (AA9, VA4).
• TGase Protein Labeling Kits Kits (L001 Substrate Finder Kit, L101/L104/L107 Biotin and ATTO-dye TGase Q-Labeling Kits, L201 Biotin TGase K-Labeling Kit) for enzymatic, site-specific labeling of proteins at glutamine or lysine residues using microbial transglutaminase.
• MTG-Blocker (Reaction Stopper C102) Small-molecule inhibitor (C102) used to stop microbial transglutaminase reactions during protein labeling workflows.
• ZediXplore EasyGel Kit Kit (E030) for convenient microbial transglutaminase (MTG)-based protein crosslinking experiments.
• Glutamine-Donor and Amine-Donor Peptides / Substrates Catalogue of glutamine-donor peptides (Z-Gln-Gly-OH, NQEQVSPLTLLK, Biotinyl-Thr-Val-Gln-Gln-Glu-Leu-OH, β-Amyloid 1-42, "Hitomi" peptides M48, K5, T26, E51, F11KA, Y25, Z3S) and amine-donors (ATTO-labeled and biotin-labeled cadaverines, PEG amines, dansyl/DNP cadaverines) for transglutaminase activity assays.
• Cereal Protein Fractions Purified cereal protein fractions from barley, rye, corn, rice, spelt, oat, wheat, durum wheat, soy, and millet — including hordein, secalin, zein, oryzin, avenin, gliadin, kafirin, and glutenin — used in celiac disease and food research.
• Recombinant Gliadin Peptides (DGPx1, DGPx2, DGPx4, 26mer, 33mer) Recombinant celiac-disease-relevant antigens — deamidated gliadin peptides (DGPx1, DGPx2, DGPx4) and immunodominant gliadin peptides (26mer, 33mer) — for diagnostics and research use.
• Custom TGase Labeling Service Fee-for-service enzymatic protein labeling and custom transglutaminase-based conjugation (e.g., biotin, fluorescent dyes, PEG, click-chemistry handles) using the Andracon® MTG platform for external customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• ZED1227 first-in-class oral TG2 inhibitor advanced into Phase 2b real-life study and extended Phase 2b efficacy study enrolling from June 2026.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered community / scientific partner, flagship / core partnership, major academic partner, major consortium / cluster partnership and core research partnership.

• FEBS Advanced Course on Transglutaminases (Padova)community / scientific partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Zedira presents the inaugural Transglutaminase Award at the FEBS Advanced Course 2026 in Padova and supports FEBS workshops on Transglutaminases in Human Disease Processes, providing scientific community sponsorship and visibility.
• Takeda Pharmaceutical Companyflagship / core partnershipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Takeda entered a Collaboration and Licensing Agreement with Zedira and Dr. Falk Pharma to develop a first-in-class celiac disease therapy based on ZED1227. The agreement extends the prior ZED-101/ZED1227 licensing to Dr. Falk Pharma (Europe) into a global program with Takeda as commercial partner.
• University of Mainz Hospital (Universitätsklinikum Mainz)major academic partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 23 June 2012University Medical Center Mainz is a flagship-project partner with Zedira and Dr. Falk Pharma within the CI3 excellence cluster ("Spitzencluster CI3"), receiving subsidy funding for the clinical development of the ZED1227 celiac disease drug.
• CI3 Excellence Cluster (Spitzencluster CI3)major consortium / cluster partnershipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Zedira, Dr. Falk Pharma and the University of Mainz Hospital together form a flagship project ("Leuchtturmprojekt") of the CI3 excellence cluster, receiving subsidy funding for clinical development of a celiac disease drug (announced 23 June 2012).
• Dr. Falk Pharma GmbHflagship / core partnershipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Long-standing development partner for ZED-101 (later ZED1227) for celiac disease in Europe since 2011, expanded to include NAFLD (Phase 2a). Co-developer of clinical Phase 1, 1b, 2a proof-of-concept (completed) and Phase 2b real-life study of ZED1227, and joint partner with Takeda and Zedira in the 2019 Collaboration and Licensing Agreement. Co-recipient of CI3 excellence cluster flagship project funding with the University of Mainz Hospital.
• Cardiff Universitycore research partnershipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Research cooperation focused on Transglutaminase 6 (TG6) in neurological gluten sensitivity / ataxia. Cooperation supports academic research on the role of TG6 in ataxia and underpins Zedira's TG6 antibody and ELISA product lines (E103, E104).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BPS Bioscience: Specialty enzyme and reagent supplier focused on recombinant proteins, assay kits, and inhibitors for drug discovery. Directly comparable to Zedira in catalog breadth across niche enzyme families and direct-to-research e-commerce model serving pharma and academic customers.
• Covalab: Specialty antibody, peptide, and recombinant protein provider serving academic and biotech research customers. Comparable to Zedira in product mix (custom antibodies + recombinant proteins) and target customer base of life-science researchers.
• ACROBiosystems: Recombinant protein and reagent supplier with broad catalog across enzymes, antibodies, and assay kits for biologics manufacturing and drug discovery. Comparable to Zedira in recombinant enzyme focus and biopharma R&D customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Cayman Chemical: Specialty biochemicals and assay kits supplier with broad life-science catalog. Comparable to Zedira in assay-kit and inhibitor product categories and academic/biotech distribution model, though Cayman operates at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Bio-Techne (R&D Systems / Novus Biologicals / Tocris): Large specialty reagent and antibody supplier (R&D Systems, Novus Biologicals, Tocris). Comparable to Zedira in reagent/antibody/assay product categories, but operates at vastly larger scale with a much broader catalog and global reach.
• Abcam: Global antibody and reagent supplier (now part of Danaher). Comparable to Zedira in antibody and recombinant-protein product mix, with a far larger catalog, broader geographic presence, and deeper commercial reach.
• MilliporeSigma (Merck KGaA Life Science): Life-science tools and reagents business of Merck KGaA (also headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany). Comparable to Zedira in specialty reagent/antibody catalog and academic/biotech customers, but operates at vastly greater scale and scope across multiple life-science product lines.

Regional players

• Tebu-bio: European reagent distributor and manufacturer serving academic and biotech customers with specialty proteins and antibodies. Comparable to Zedira in European mid-market customer base, reagent distribution focus, and proximity to EU research markets.

Emerging players

• Anokion: Clinical-stage immunology company developing antigen-specific tolerance therapies for celiac disease and other autoimmune conditions. Comparable to Zedira in celiac-disease therapeutic focus, but with a different antigen-specific tolerance mechanism rather than TG2 inhibition.
• ImmusanT: Clinical-stage biotech developing Nexvax2, a peptide-based therapeutic vaccine for celiac disease. Comparable to Zedira in celiac-disease drug-development focus, though ImmusanT's immunomodulation mechanism differs from ZED1227's TG2-inhibition approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/zedi_zedira
• Facebookfacebook.com/zedira.gmbh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zedira-gmbh

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zedira GmbH