What Navigo Proteins GmbH does

Navigo Proteins GmbH is a privately held German protein engineering company headquartered on the Weinberg Campus in Halle (Saale), operating two wholly-owned subsidiaries — Navigo Pure and Navigo Precision — and holding minority stakes in two asset vehicles, GAIASO Theranostics and OptigoBio. Navigo Pure delivers affinity chromatography solutions under the Precision Capturing® brand for downstream processing in biotherapeutics manufacturing, while Navigo Precision develops next-generation radiotheranostics and targeted therapies for oncology indications with significant unmet need. The company's core technology is the proprietary Affilin® platform, which produces novel target-binding proteins that combine the specificity and affinity of antibodies with the smaller size and tumor penetration advantages of peptides; Affilin® molecules can be configured as mono-, bi-, or multi-specific ligands and coupled to radioactive isotopes or cytotoxic payloads. The HEAD platform layers Affilin® into preclinical radiopharmaceutical development, and a separate pre-targeting strategy pairs Affilin® with VERAXA's trans-cyclooctene click chemistry to separate tumor binding from radio-conjugation in vivo.

The company generates revenue primarily through technology licensing (Affilin® and HEAD licenses into GAIASO and OptigoBio), strategic R&D collaborations (VERAXA Biotech, SCK CEN, ITM), and contract bioprocessing for biotherapeutics manufacturers, with future royalty potential from successful clinical assets. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales: a Head of Business Development engages pharma and biotech counterparties directly ([email protected]), supported by conference presence at BIO International Convention, BIO-Europe, Swiss Biotech Days, BioProcess International Europe and TIDES USA. AI-assisted protein engineering — using Rosetta/PyRosetta, protein language models, and generative AI against proprietary compound libraries — is built into the design workflow. Ownership is described as rooted in a long tradition of German family entrepreneurship, with no disclosed venture capital or private equity funding rounds.

Name

Navigo Proteins GmbH

Legal name

Navigo Proteins GmbH

Website

https://navigo-proteins.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Navigo Proteins GmbH is a privately held German biotech that develops the proprietary Affilin® and HEAD protein platforms, licensing them into radiotheranostics, oncology therapeutics, ophthalmology, and bioprocessing through its Navigo Pure and Navigo Precision subsidiaries and asset vehicles GAIASO Theranostics and OptigoBio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopharmaceutical Protein Engineering & Radiotheranostics

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization) (HLAAAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Engineered Protein Therapeutics (de novo/AI-designed proteins, novel scaffolds) (HLAAAAAJ)

Keywords

• Protein engineering services
• Radiotheranostic development
• Affinity chromatography solutions
• Targeted radioligand therapy
• Bioprocessing purification platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Halle

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing: Navigo Proteins licenses its Affilin® and other proprietary technologies to third-party companies including GAIASO Theranostics and OptigoBio through asset vehicle structures. This generates licensing revenue while allowing efficient advancement of promising assets into clinical development.
2. Co-development and R&D Collaboration Agreements: Strategic R&D collaborations with partners such as VERAXA Biotech and SCK CEN focused on developing novel radiotheranostics. These partnerships likely involve upfront payments, milestone payments, and potential future royalties on successful products.
3. In-house Product Development: Development of proprietary radiopharmaceutical products through Navigo Precision subsidiary targeting significant unmet medical needs in oncology. Products under development aim to deliver best-in-class therapies directly to patients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Navigo Proteins engineers and licenses proprietary Affilin® target-binding proteins and the HEAD radiotheranostic platform for development of targeted cancer therapeutics and diagnostics, while its Navigo Pure subsidiary delivers Precision Capturing® affinity chromatography solutions for biotherapeutics manufacturing. The company monetizes these technologies primarily through technology licensing, strategic R&D co-development agreements, and proprietary product development via its subsidiaries and asset vehicles.

Product overview

Navigo Proteins GmbH is a biotech company operating through two core subsidiaries—Navigo Pure and Navigo Precision—along with specialized asset vehicles (GAIASO Theranostics, OptigoBio). Navigo Pure delivers affinity chromatography and Precision Capturing solutions for bioprocessing, while Navigo Precision develops targeted radiotheranostics and therapeutics. The company's proprietary Affilin platform and HEAD platform enable development of novel target-binding proteins for cancer diagnostics and treatment, with technology licensed to asset vehicles for clinical advancement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Navigo Pure: Drives innovation in affinity chromatography, delivering efficient, scalable, and sustainable bioprocessing solutions for the biotherapeutics industry.
• Navigo Precision
• Precision Capturing®

Products and services

• Navigo Pure Wholly-owned subsidiary offering affinity chromatography and Precision Capturing® bioprocessing solutions for efficient, scalable, and sustainable manufacturing of biotherapeutics, targeting biopharmaceutical manufacturers.
• Navigo Precision Wholly-owned subsidiary developing next-generation targeted radiotheranostics and innovative products aimed at enhancing patient diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for diseases with significant unmet medical needs, with focus on oncology.
• GAIASO Theranostics Asset vehicle (minority-held by Navigo) developing radiotheranostic products in oncology, particularly in the area of female cancers, advancing Affilin®-based assets toward clinical development.
• OptigoBio Asset vehicle (minority-held by Navigo) developing cutting-edge treatments for vision loss caused by chronic ophthalmic diseases, advancing next-generation intravitreal therapies using Affilin®-based assets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieves exceptional tumor-specific accumulation with favorable biodistribution
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• SCK CENcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Strategic R&D collaboration for preclinical development of next-generation radiotheranostics using Auger-electron emitting radioisotope Terbium-161. Combines Navigo's Affilin® and HEAD platforms with SCK CEN's expertise in radioisotopes and preclinical testing. Focus on multiple undisclosed targets.
• VERAXA Biotech AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 December 2024Research collaboration to develop novel radioimmunoconjugates for diagnosing and treating challenging cancers. Combines Navigo's Affilin® platform with VERAXA's proprietary trans-cyclooctene-based click chemistry technology using a pre-targeting strategy. Affilin® molecules bind to tumor antigens before a radioactive payload is conjugated in vivo.
• ITMmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration in the radiopharmaceutical industry with ITM, a strong player in targeted radioligand therapy. Drives development of Affilins® for targeted radioligand therapy and imaging.
• GAIASO TheranosticscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensed technology to GAIASO Theranostics, an asset vehicle company developing radiotheranostic products in oncology, particularly female cancers. Company founded with support and partial ownership of Navigo Proteins.
• OptigoBiocoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensed technology to OptigoBio, an asset vehicle company developing cutting-edge treatments for vision loss caused by chronic ophthalmic diseases. Company founded with support and partial ownership of Navigo Proteins.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bicycle Therapeutics: UK/US clinical-stage biotech developing bicyclic peptide conjugates for targeted oncology, including partnerships with major pharma. Comparable to Affilin's hybrid antibody-peptide concept and its application to cytotoxic conjugates and radioisotope delivery.
• Philogen: Swiss/Italian biotech using antibody fragment-based targeted therapeutics (L19, F16) for oncology, with strong radiopharmaceutical development programs. Closely comparable targeting-ligand approach for radiotheranostics and oncology.
• Molecular Partners: Swiss clinical-stage biotech developing DARPin® engineered alternative scaffold proteins for targeted therapeutics. Most direct peer given similar non-antibody scaffold strategy, modularity, and applicability to radiopharmaceutical and oncology applications.
• ITM Isotope Technologies Munich: German radiopharmaceutical company and direct Navigo partner. Develops targeted radioligand therapies and imaging agents, making it both a commercial counterpart and a customer for Navigo's Affilin targeting ligands.
• 3B Pharmaceuticals: German biotech developing peptide-based targeting ligands for radiopharmaceuticals and other therapeutic applications. Comparable in technology (small targeting proteins/peptides), geographic base, and radiotheranostic focus.

Broad incumbents

• Cytiva (Danaher): Global bioprocessing leader offering chromatography resins, systems, and services for biotherapeutics manufacturing. Overlaps with Navigo Pure's Precision Capturing affinity chromatography offering.
• Tosoh Bioscience: Major supplier of chromatography resins and columns for biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Directly comparable to Navigo Pure's Precision Capturing affinity chromatography technology.
• Bio-Rad Laboratories: US life science tools company with significant chromatography, protein purification, and analytical instrument offerings. Overlaps with Navigo Pure's bioprocessing and protein analytics capabilities.
• Sartorius: German-headquartered bioprocessing equipment and consumables supplier, including chromatography solutions. Comparable to Navigo Pure's bioprocessing business and competes in downstream processing for biologics manufacturers.

Emerging players

• Araris Biotech: Swiss biotech developing site-specific antibody-drug conjugates using novel linker technology. Comparable emerging biotech with innovative protein-based therapeutic platform targeting oncology applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/navigo-proteins-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Navigo Proteins GmbH