metabion international

What metabion international does

metabion international is a Munich-based biotechnology company specializing in custom oligonucleotide synthesis for life sciences research, in vitro diagnostics, and therapeutic development. Founded in 1997 and operating through two German legal entities (metabion international AG and metabion GmbH) in Planegg/Steinkirchen and Kirchheim bei München, the company serves research laboratories, IVD manufacturers, and pharmaceutical/biotech customers globally. It positions itself as a boutique, premium-tier provider with ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 certifications and 25+ years of operational history.

The core product portfolio spans custom DNA oligos (single tube, high-throughput plates, qPCR probes, NGS oligos, DNA longmers up to 220 bases, duplex DNA), custom RNA oligos (including longmers up to 120 bases, qPCR probes, and siRNA/dsRNA), m-block gene fragments and libraries, mid- and large-scale DNA/RNA synthesis, diagnostic/IVD oligonucleotides, therapeutic oligonucleotides, and a research-use LAMP device (qcLAMP Pebble-R). Underlying technology is phosphoramidite-based solid-phase synthesis, with proprietary or licensed modifications including MBQ-1/MBQ-2 license-free black quenchers, ZNA (spermine-conjugated), LNA, MGB probes, and a worldwide-licensed click chemistry (CuAAC/SPAAC) platform. Reported coupling efficiency reaches 99.7% versus an industry standard of 98.5%, and every oligo undergoes mass spectrometry QC (MALDI-ToF or ESI-ToF).

metabion operates a hybrid go-to-market: a self-serve Web Order Portal (WOP) with eProcurement/OCI integration handles catalog and repeat orders globally, while a sales team manages custom, IVD, and therapeutic projects. Revenue is generated through one-time unit-priced custom synthesis orders, GMP/IVD-grade therapeutic supply, and CMO/kitting services. Pricing is quote-based across four DNA synthesis scales (0.02, 0.2, 1.0, 10.0 µmol) with yield-guaranteed delivery in nanomoles; standard DNA oligos ship next business day. Distribution channels include the WOP, direct email ordering via pre-formatted Excel templates, and OCI-integrated enterprise procurement, with all manufacturing and fulfillment operated from the Munich-area facilities.

Name

metabion international

Legal name

metabion international AG

Website

https://metabion.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

metabion international is a German biotech company specializing in custom DNA and RNA oligonucleotide synthesis, serving research institutions, IVD manufacturers, and pharmaceutical/biotech customers with proprietary modifications, GMP-compliant manufacturing, and ISO 13485-certified therapeutic-grade supply.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Oligonucleotide Synthesis Services

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Molecular Biology & Genomics Instruments (PCR/qPCR, Sequencing, Microarrays) (HLAGAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Molecular Diagnostics (PCR/qPCR, NGS-based assays) (HLAAALAA)

Keywords

• Custom oligonucleotide synthesis
• Nucleic acid manufacturing
• QPCR probe design
• Therapeutic oligo production
• IVD oligonucleotide supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Planegg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Oligonucleotide Sales: Synthesis and sale of custom DNA and RNA oligonucleotides including standard oligos, modified oligos, qPCR probes, NGS oligos, and therapeutic-grade oligos. Products are sold as one-time purchases with quantities ranging from nanomoles to millimoles depending on scale.
2. GMP/IVD Oligonucleotides: Mid- and large-scale oligonucleotides for diagnostic (IVD) and therapeutic applications, including GMP-compliant manufacturing for investigational medicinal products.
3. CMO and Kitting Services: Contract manufacturing organization services including custom DNA/RNA synthesis, formulation, labeling, kit assembly and logistics for third-party biotech and diagnostic companies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

metabion international designs, synthesizes, and supplies custom DNA and RNA oligonucleotides to order, including standard oligos, qPCR probes, NGS oligos, longmers, duplex DNA, siRNA, gene fragments, and mid- to large-scale IVD- and therapeutic-grade oligonucleotides, with proprietary modifications (MBQ quenchers, ZNA, LNA, MGB) and click-chemistry labeling. It also offers CMO/kitting services and a self-serve Web Order Portal for configuring and tracking custom nucleic-acid orders.

Product overview

metabion international is a biotechnology company offering premium custom oligonucleotide synthesis services as a unified portfolio centered around DNA and RNA oligonucleotides. The core product line encompasses Custom DNA Oligos (including single tube, high-throughput plate formats, qPCR probes, NGS oligos, longmers, and duplex DNA) and Custom RNA Oligos (single tube, plates, longmers, qPCR probes, and siRNA/RNAi). Supporting products include DNA/RNA amplification accessories, click chemistry services, m-block gene fragments, mid/large-scale manufacturing, and diagnostic/IVD and therapeutic oligonucleotides. The company also provides CMO and kitting services, LAMP devices (Pebble-R), and an e-commerce Web Order Portal (WOP) for ordering. Modifications include LNA, ZNA, MGB, ATTO dyes, and proprietary MBQ black quenchers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom DNA Oligos Custom DNA oligonucleotides synthesized to customer specifications in single tube and high-throughput plate (HTO) formats, with options including qPCR probes, NGS oligos, longmers, and duplex DNA. For molecular biology, genomics, qPCR, and synthetic biology researchers.
• Custom RNA Oligos Custom RNA oligonucleotides including single-tube and high-throughput plate formats, RNA longmers up to 120 bases, RNA qPCR probes, and siRNA/RNAi/dsRNA for gene silencing. For RNA researchers, gene-silencing studies, and therapeutic discovery teams.
• qPCR Probes Portfolio Real-time PCR probe portfolio including Dual-Labelled Probes (DLPs), HP Double Quenched Probes (DQPs), LightCycler/HybProbes (LCPs), SimpleGT single-labelled SNP genotyping probes, MGB probes, LNA primers and probes, ZNA primers and probes, and RNA qPCR probes. For diagnostic developers and research labs performing SNP genotyping and gene-expression analysis.
• HP Double Quenched Probes (HP DQPs) High-performance double-quenched probes for real-time quantitative PCR, providing improved signal-to-noise ratio, reduced background, and increased end-point fluorescence. For diagnostic developers and assay researchers.
• Dual-Labelled Probes (DLPs) Dual-labelled hydrolysis probes with 5'-reporter and 3'-quencher modifications, including LNA-DLPs and MGB-DLPs variants, used in 5'-nuclease qPCR assays. For diagnostic developers and research labs performing gene-expression and pathogen detection.
• MGB Probes Minor Groove Binder (MGB) qPCR probes carrying a 3'-end MGB moiety that increases melting temperature and stabilizes probe-target hybridization, enabling shorter probe designs with high specificity. For diagnostic and research qPCR users.
• LNA Primers and Probes Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) modified primers and probes that increase duplex stability and melting temperature while providing significant resistance to nucleases. For miRNA detection, SNP genotyping, antisense research, and demanding qPCR assays.
• ZNA Primers and Probes Zip Nucleic Acid (ZNA) primers and probes conjugated with cationic spermine units that decrease charge repulsion, enhance hybridization affinity, and increase melting temperature for improved target recognition. For molecular diagnostics, SNP genotyping, and qPCR applications.
• MBQ-1 and MBQ-2 Black Quenchers License-free proprietary black quencher modifications (MBQ-1 absorbing 480–580 nm equivalent to BHQ-1; MBQ-2 absorbing 550–650 nm equivalent to BHQ-2) used in dual-labelled probes for real-time PCR, functioning via FRET and static quenching. For qPCR probe developers and diagnostic manufacturers avoiding BHQ licensing costs.
• NGS Oligos Oligonucleotides for next-generation sequencing (NGS) applications, produced in a dedicated synthesis pipeline to minimize cross-contamination risk. For NGS platform users, sequencing service providers, and genomics labs.
• siRNA/RNAi/dsRNA siRNA, RNAi, and dsRNA products for gene-silencing studies, including high-efficiency siHE siRNA variants. For functional genomics, target validation, and RNAi therapeutic discovery.
• siHE siRNA High-Efficiency small interfering RNA (siHE siRNA) designed for precise and highly efficient knockdown of target genes. For functional genomics and gene-silencing studies.
• Mid- and Large-Scale DNA/RNA Oligos Mid- and large-scale synthesis of DNA and RNA oligonucleotides for R&D, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications. For customers requiring higher quantities than standard research-scale synthesis.
• Diagnostic/IVD Oligonucleotides Oligonucleotides designed and manufactured for in vitro diagnostic (IVD) and Analyte-Specific Reagent (ASR) applications under ISO 13485:2016 certified quality standards. For IVD kit manufacturers developing diagnostic assays.
• Therapeutic Oligonucleotides Oligonucleotides for therapeutic applications, including click-chemistry-modified constructs for targeted drug delivery, with GMP-compliant manufacturing capabilities for investigational medicinal products. For pharmaceutical and biotech developers working on antisense, siRNA, and targeted therapeutics.
• m-block Gene Fragments & Libraries Synthetic gene fragments and libraries for gene construction and synthetic biology applications. For synthetic biology researchers and labs building genes, pathways, and engineered constructs.
• DNA/RNA Amplification Accessories Supporting products for nucleic-acid workflows including polymerases and PCR mixes, dNTPs and NTPs, nucleic-acid purification kits, molecular-weight markers, DNA/RNA modifying enzymes, and click-chemistry reagents. For molecular biology labs running PCR, RT, and nucleic-acid modification workflows.
• Click Chemistry Services Oligonucleotide labeling and modification services using click chemistry (CuAAC and SPAAC) for fluorescent dyes, biotin, and other conjugates, enabling multiple labeling and production of modified oligonucleotides exceeding critical sequence lengths. For diagnostic developers and therapeutic researchers needing site-specific conjugates.
• CMO and Kitting Services Contract manufacturing organization (CMO) services and custom kitting for oligonucleotide products, including formulation, labeling, kit assembly, and logistics. For biotech and diagnostic companies outsourcing manufacturing or kit-assembly operations.
• qcLAMP Pebble-R Device Research Use Only (RUO) quantitative LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) device branded Pebble-R. For molecular biology research labs performing isothermal nucleic-acid amplification assays.
• ATTO Dye Portfolio Comprehensive range of ATTO fluorescent dyes for oligonucleotide labeling covering the entire visible-light spectrum, available conjugated to custom oligos. For researchers and diagnostic developers requiring fluorescent labeling.
• Web Order Portal (WOP) Secure online ordering portal for configuring custom oligonucleotide products, viewing pricing, tracking orders, and managing account settings, with support for frequent-order resubmission. For existing metabion customers placing standard or repeat custom orders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Coupling efficiency up to 99.7%, exceeding industry standard of 98.5%
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• baseclick GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2026Strategic collaboration between metabion and baseclick GmbH to advance the synthesis of therapeutic oligonucleotides with proprietary clickable modifications for precise tissue and organ targeting. The partnership combines metabion's expertise in oligosynthesis with baseclick's advanced click-chemistry capabilities, delivering streamlined end-to-end solutions for next-generation targeted therapeutic oligos. Customers benefit from high-purity oligo synthesis, site-specific clickable handle incorporation, scalable click-chemistry conjugation services, and coordinated technical support from both companies.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT): IDT (now part of Danaher) is the largest global supplier of custom DNA/RNA oligonucleotides for research, diagnostics, and therapeutic applications, directly competing with metabion across DNA oligos, qPCR probes, NGS oligos, and modification chemistries.
• Eurogentec: Eurogentec (part of Kaneka) manufactures custom oligonucleotides and offers GMP-grade oligos for therapeutic and IVD use, closely overlapping metabion's product portfolio and quality/regulatory positioning.
• LGC Biosearch Technologies: LGC Biosearch Technologies supplies custom oligos, qPCR probes, and nucleic acid synthesis reagents for genomics and diagnostics customers, with comparable modification chemistries and IVD-grade offerings.
• TriLink BioTechnologies (Maravai LifeSciences): TriLink manufactures custom oligonucleotides, mRNA, and nucleic acid-based diagnostics inputs under GMP, directly competing with metabion's therapeutic and IVD-grade oligo CMO services.
• Biolegio: Biolegio is a Dutch custom oligonucleotide manufacturer offering standard and modified DNA/RNA oligos for research and molecular diagnostics — a similar boutique, high-quality European oligo CDMO profile.

Broad incumbents

• Thermo Fisher Scientific (Custom Oligo Services): Thermo Fisher offers custom oligonucleotide synthesis as part of a much broader life sciences tools and services portfolio; it competes with metabion on standard and modified oligos but at far greater scale.
• Merck KGaA / Sigma-Aldrich (Custom Oligos): Sigma-Aldrich (part of Merck KGaA Life Science) supplies custom oligos as part of its vast reagents catalog, overlapping with metabion's research-grade and certain modified oligo offerings.
• Agilent Technologies (Oligonucleotide Solutions): Agilent provides custom oligonucleotides and SurePrint arrays for diagnostics and genomics, with overlap to metabion's qPCR probes, NGS oligos, and IVD-grade offerings, though as part of a broader analytical instruments portfolio.
• Horizon Discovery / Revvity (Dharmacon): Dharmacon (now under Revvity/PerkinElmer) offers synthetic RNA, siRNA, and modified nucleic acids for research and therapeutic applications, competing with metabion's siRNA and modified RNA oligo portfolio.

Emerging players

• Twist Bioscience: Twist Bioscience is a DNA synthesis platform whose gene fragments, oligo pools, and NGS target enrichment products partially overlap with metabion's m-block gene fragments and NGS oligo offerings, with greater scale on silicon-based synthesis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/metabion-international-ag

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 metabion international