INOFEA

What INOFEA does

INOFEA AG is a Swiss biotech company founded in 2014 as a spin-off from the University of Applied Sciences in Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), headquartered in Muttenz (Basel area), Switzerland. The company has developed and patented an enzyme immobilization and shielding technology platform that grows a structured protective layer around enzymes, preventing denaturation and leaching while maintaining activity under harsh industrial process conditions including solvents, chaotropic agents, high temperatures, and wide pH ranges. The technology supports single enzymes as well as co-immobilized cocktails enabling cascade reactions, and enables implementation in continuous or semi-continuous manufacturing via flow-through or bed-packed reactors.

INOFEA's product portfolio spans ready-to-use immobilized enzymes (proteases, nucleases, polymerases), pipeline biologics-manufacturing enzymes (T7 RNA Polymerase, DNase I, S1 Nuclease), molecular biology enzymes, bioconjugation enzymes, and biocatalysis enzymes for small molecule API manufacturing. The company sells primarily to biologics manufacturers (mRNA vaccines/therapeutics, ADCs, downstream purification) and small molecule API manufacturers using biocatalytic processes, with secondary exposure to life science companies with specialized enzyme needs. Products are priced in CHF at approximately CHF 4,300–6,340 per unit via a direct e-commerce enzyme shop.

The company operates a three-pronged business model: (1) catalog enzyme product sales, (2) on-demand custom enzyme development services from feasibility through scale-up, and (3) technology licensing — demonstrated by a license to Perseo pharma. Commercial reach is augmented by a distribution partnership with Brenntag. INOFEA has ~11 team members, is privately held with angel-stage funding from Business Angels Switzerland and Venture Kick, and transitioned to a new CEO, Dr. Christoph Becker (ex-Novartis, Lonza, Siegfried), in August 2025.

Name

INOFEA

Legal name

INOFEA AG

Website

https://inofea.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

INOFEA AG is a Swiss biotech company that develops and sells immobilized, shielded enzymes for biologics manufacturing (mRNA, ADCs, downstream purification) and small molecule API biocatalysis, serving pharmaceutical and biotech customers via direct sales, custom development, and technology licensing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biocatalysis and Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Enzymes

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Bioprocess Consumables & Reagents (resins, membranes, media components, buffers) (HLAAAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Drug Product Fill-Finish & Aseptic Manufacturing Services (HLAAAKAB)

Keywords

• Immobilized enzyme technology
• Biologics manufacturing enzymes
• Biocatalysis solutions
• Pharmaceutical enzyme products
• Custom enzyme development

Headquarters

HQ city

Basel

HQ country

Switzerland

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Enzyme Product Sales: Sale of ready-to-use immobilized enzyme products including proteases, nucleases, polymerases, and biocatalysts. Products sold through website enzyme shop with publicly listed CHF prices. One-time purchase model per product.
2. On-Demand Enzyme Development: Custom enzyme development services working closely with clients from project scope analysis and feasibility study to development and production of formulated enzymes. Includes turnkey product manufacturing from small samples to large-scale production.
3. Technology Licensing: Licensing option allowing clients to integrate INOFEA's proprietary technology into their own manufacturing operations. Client benefits from proprietary know-how for greater efficiency and competitive edge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

INOFEA develops and sells immobilized enzyme products (proteases, nucleases, polymerases, biocatalysts) using a proprietary shielding platform that prevents enzyme denaturation and leaching, enabling continuous bioprocessing for biologics manufacturing and small molecule API production. Beyond off-the-shelf enzymes, the company offers on-demand custom enzyme development services and licenses its core immobilization technology to pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Product overview

INOFEA is a Swiss biotech company offering enzyme-based solutions for biologics manufacturing and small molecule API production. Their portfolio consists of ready-to-use enzyme products (Protease Kit, Carboxypeptidase Y, Leucine Aminopeptidase, Prolidase, Pronase, Proteinase K), pipeline products under development (T7 RNA Polymerase, DNase I, S1 Nuclease), molecular biology enzymes (Trypsin, T4 DNA Ligase, DNA/RNA Nucleases, PNGase F), bioconjugation enzymes (Microbial Transglutaminase), and biocatalysis enzymes (Amine Transaminase, Ketoreductase, Alpha-amylase, Urease, Glucose Isomerase, Lipase B, Lipoxygenase). All products feature their proprietary enzyme immobilization and shielding technology platform that enables enzyme stabilization, prevents leaching, and allows implementation in continuous or semicontinuous manufacturing processes. The company also provides On Demand Development services and Technology Licensing for custom enzyme solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Protease Kit Immobilized protease blend containing a cocktail of five stabilized endo- and exo-peptidases for complete protein hydrolysis, used in biomarker identification, peptide mapping, protein characterization, and downstream purification of monoclonal antibodies.
• Carboxypeptidase Y Stabilized serine protease exopeptidase with broad amino acid specificity that cleaves any terminal amino acid, including proline, from the carboxy-terminus of peptides, and is easily separated after reaction completion.
• Leucine Aminopeptidase Stabilized exopeptidase that catalyzes hydrolysis of amino acid residues from the amino-terminus of polypeptide chains, reacting most rapidly with leucine residues, and is easily separated after reaction completion.
• Prolidase Stabilized enzyme that catalyzes hydrolysis of the imide bond between an alpha-carboxyl group and proline or hydroxyproline, easily separated after reaction completion.
• Pronase Stabilized mixture of endo- and exoproteases with broad specificity that digests proteins to single amino acids, applicable for protein degradation during DNA and RNA isolation and easily collected from reactions to improve downstream purification.
• Proteinase K Stabilized broad-spectrum serine protease used for digestion of proteins including DNases and RNases, easily separated from reaction mixture to improve downstream purification, and implementable in continuous or semi-continuous manufacturing processes. Priced at CHF 4,305.25 per unit.
• T7 RNA Polymerase DNA-dependent RNA polymerase with specificity for double-stranded promoters, used in in vitro synthesis of mRNA, can be included in continuous or semi-continuous processes. Priced at CHF 6,339.14 per unit with a minimum order of 20,000 units, produced upon request.
• DNase I Enzyme that efficiently hydrolyzes single- and double-stranded DNA into mono- and oligo-deoxyribonucleotides, applied for removal of DNA template after in vitro transcription reactions, and implementable in continuous or semi-continuous processes.
• S1 Nuclease Hydrolyzes single-stranded RNA or DNA into 5-prime mononucleotides, applied in enzymatic degradation of DNA/RNA from proteins and other biologicals, and can be included in continuous or semi-continuous processes.
• Trypsin Immobilized sequence-specific protease for protein digestion and peptide mapping workflows, with simple enzyme removal after digestion. Priced at CHF 5,429.97 per unit with a minimum order of 30 units.
• T4 DNA Ligase Immobilized ligase for DNA joining and chemoenzymatic oligonucleotide workflows, enabling easier enzyme removal and potential repeated use. Priced at CHF 5,997.23 per unit and supplied in a spin-column format.
• DNA/RNA Nucleases Immobilized nuclease preparation for controlled DNA and RNA digestion, nucleic acid clean-up, and analytical sample preparation. Priced at CHF 5,953.13 per unit.
• PNGase F Immobilized amidase for enzymatic N-glycan release from glycoproteins in glycoprotein characterization and analytical sample preparation.
• Microbial Transglutaminase Immobilized enzyme for protein crosslinking and site-selective bioconjugation workflows, including antibody or peptide modification applications. Priced at CHF 5,775.00 per unit, with non-covalent and oriented immobilization on a negatively charged surface.
• Amine Transaminase Immobilized amine transaminase for synthesis of chiral amines by amino-group transfer in biocatalytic pharmaceutical intermediate production.
• Ketoreductase Immobilized ketoreductase for asymmetric ketone reduction to chiral alcohols in biocatalytic synthesis and pharmaceutical intermediate production.
• Alpha-amylase Immobilized alpha-amylase for starch hydrolysis and carbohydrate processing, producing shorter oligosaccharides from alpha-1,4-glucans.
• Urease Immobilized urease for urea hydrolysis to ammonia and carbon dioxide in analytical, environmental, and process applications.
• Glucose Isomerase Immobilized glucose isomerase for glucose-to-fructose isomerization in carbohydrate processing and industrial biocatalysis.
• Lipase B Immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B for esterification, transesterification, and stereoselective transformations in organic synthesis and biocatalysis. Priced at CHF 5,665.80 per unit.
• Lipoxygenase Immobilized lipoxygenase for oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, supporting lipid modification and analytical biocatalysis workflows.
• On Demand Development Services Custom enzyme development services covering project scope analysis, feasibility studies, and production of formulated enzymes tailored to specific client needs, from small sample manufacturing through large-scale production via trusted partners.
• Technology Licensing Licensing of INOFEA's proprietary enzyme immobilization and shielding technology, allowing clients to integrate the platform into their own manufacturing operations for greater efficiency and competitive advantage.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20-fold increase in expression yield mentioned in ACROBiosystems Innovation Day presentations on AI-powered protein engineering

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ACROBiosystemsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026INOFEA participated as a speaker at ACROBiosystems Innovation Day event in Zurich, Switzerland, alongside Wyss Zurich, University of Zurich, and Limula. Presented case studies on optimized cytokines and automated cell therapy manufacturing platforms.
• Perseo pharmacoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerINOFEA has licensed its proprietary enzyme technology to Perseo pharma, allowing them to integrate the technology into their own manufacturing operations. This demonstrates the commercial viability of INOFEA's technology platform through technology licensing.
• BrenntagcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorINOFEA is supported by Brenntag to efficiently increase awareness in the Pharmaceutical industry. Brenntag is a leading chemical and ingredients distributor, helping INOFEA expand market reach in the pharmaceutical sector.
• FHNW (University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINOFEA was founded as a spin-off of FHNW. The technology was developed at FHNW as postdoc research. Dr. Rita Correro developed INOFEA's technology during her postdoc at FHNW.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Codexis: US-based protein engineering company developing engineered enzymes and biocatalysts for pharmaceutical manufacturing. Highly comparable to INOFEA in serving pharma and biopharma customers with specialty enzymes, but at significantly greater scale and with a broader enzyme library.
• EnginZyme: Sweden-based company commercializing immobilized enzymes for sustainable chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Directly comparable to INOFEA in technology platform (enzyme immobilization), target customer base (pharma/biotech manufacturers), and business model (products and licensing).
• Creative Enzymes: US-based enzyme supplier offering a broad catalog of enzymes for industrial and research applications. Comparable to INOFEA in selling specialty enzymes through an e-commerce channel and serving biotech customers, though at a smaller technical differentiation.
• c-LEcta: German biotechnology company developing and producing enzymes for industrial applications including pharmaceutical and food industries. Comparable to INOFEA in biocatalysis focus, B2B enzyme supply, and serving regulated manufacturing customers.
• Bisy: Austrian biocatalysis company developing enzymes for industrial and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Comparable to INOFEA in European footprint, enzyme technology focus, and serving manufacturing customers in pharma and chemicals.
• Prozomix: UK-based company developing and producing biocatalysts for chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Directly comparable to INOFEA in offering specialty enzyme products and custom enzyme development services to pharma/biotech manufacturers.

Emerging players

• Purolite (Ecolab): US-based manufacturer of resin-based products including chromatography and immobilization supports used in bioprocessing. Comparable to INOFEA in supplying bioprocess consumables and enabling enzyme immobilization, though Purolite focuses on the carrier resins rather than the finished immobilized enzymes.
• ACROBiosystems: Global provider of proteins, antibodies, and reagents for biopharmaceutical R&D and manufacturing. Comparable to INOFEA in serving biologics manufacturers (mRNA, ADC, antibodies) with consumables and reagents, and an existing ecosystem partner through the Innovation Day relationship.

Broad incumbents

• Amano Enzyme: Japanese enzyme manufacturer producing a wide range of industrial and specialty enzymes for food, pharmaceutical, and diagnostic applications. Broad incumbent with overlapping pharma and diagnostic enzyme portfolios serving similar B2B customers.
• Novonesis: Danish global leader in enzyme production (formed by merger of Novozymes and Chr. Hansen). Broad incumbent in the enzyme space with overlapping biocatalysis offerings for pharma, food, and industrial markets; competes with INOFEA in pharma enzymes at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/inofea_ag
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inofea

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 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 INOFEA