What Cytion does

Cytion GmbH is a Heidelberg-based (Eppelheim, Germany) provider of authenticated biological materials and cell culture services for life sciences research, operating under ISO 9001:2015 quality management. Its core offering is a catalog of more than 1,000 cell lines — spanning human, animal, stem, primary, and reporter-labeled cells — in which every human line undergoes STR profiling and full contamination screening (mycoplasma, bacteria, fungi, viruses), accompanied by a Certificate of Analysis. A specialized line of business is a collection of 272 HLA-typed cell lines with high-resolution NGS typing across eight loci (A, B, C, DRB1, DQA1, DQB1, DPB1, E), targeted at immunological and transplant research. Complementing the catalog are cell culture services (mycoplasma detection, STR authentication, assay-ready cell preparation, cell culture expansion, cell banking, and sample storage) and ancillary media, buffers, supplements, and cell detachment reagents.

The company was founded in 2004 by Dr. Rosemarie Steubing as Cell Lines Service, rebranded to Cytion in 2023, and remains founder-owned under Managing Director Jonathan Steubing. It sells primarily through a self-serve, multi-language e-commerce storefront with regional storefronts across Germany, France, the UK, the US, Canada, and Spain, supported by cold-chain logistics to researchers in 80+ countries, an authorized distributor network, and a US distribution subsidiary (Cell Lines Service LLC, Sioux Falls). A Technology Transfer Program enables research institutions to deposit cell lines into Cytion's distribution network in exchange for revenue share. Customers are split between academic and university research institutions (drug discovery, cancer biology, immunology, vaccine development, virology, gene therapy, neuroscience, toxicology) and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies requiring regulatory-compliant documentation.

Commercial expansion is currently anchored by an exclusive February 2026 partnership with AsedaSciences, under which Cytion is the sole cell line partner for the 3RnD cloud-based, AI-driven phenotypic screening platform, integrating authenticated cell models into a target-to-cell workflow for early drug safety and toxicity assessment. Pricing is per-vial (approximately €430–€800 per unit depending on line) with separate service-based fees; commercial-use rights require bespoke Supply Agreements beyond the standard MTA. No external funding rounds, IPO, or institutional investors are disclosed, and revenue figures are not publicly reported.

Name

Cytion

Legal name

Cytion GmbH

Website

https://cytion.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cytion GmbH is a Heidelberg-based cell biology provider selling 1,000+ STR-authenticated human, animal, stem, primary, and reporter-labeled cell lines plus 272 NGS HLA-typed lines and related culture services to academic and pharmaceutical researchers in 80+ countries via e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cell Culture Products

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Sample Logistics, Biorepository & IVD Kit Management (Trial Support) (HLAGAEAI)

Keywords

• Authenticated cell lines
• Cell culture reagents
• Primary cell products
• HLA typing services
• Mycoplasma detection testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Eppelheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cell Line and Primary Cell Product Sales: Cytion generates revenue primarily through direct product sales of authenticated cell lines (human, animal, stem), primary cells, and reporter-labeled cells via its e-commerce platform. Products are priced per vial/unit with pricing ranging from €430 to €800+ depending on the cell line. Orders are fulfilled globally with cold-chain logistics.
2. Media & Reagents: Sale of cell culture media, buffers, supplements, and cell detachment reagents to support cell culture workflows.
3. Cell Culture Services: Fee-for-service offerings including mycoplasma detection testing, cell line STR authentication, sample storage, assay-ready cell preparation, cell culture expansion, and cell banking services.
4. Technology Transfer / Revenue Share: Cytion accepts deposited cell lines from research institutions (universities, hospitals, research centers) under its Technology Transfer Program, distributing them globally and sharing revenue with the depositing institution.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cytion is a cell culture provider producing and distributing authenticated human and animal cell lines, primary cells, stem cells, and reporter-labeled cells, complemented by culture media, buffers, supplements, and cell detachment reagents. The company also offers professional cell culture services including mycoplasma detection testing, STR-based cell line authentication, assay-ready cell preparation, cell culture expansion, cell banking, and sample storage. All offerings are produced under ISO 9001:2015 quality management and shipped globally with cold-chain logistics.

Product overview

Cytion is a cell biology company offering a comprehensive portfolio of authenticated biological materials and cell culture services. The core offering includes over 1,000 authenticated cell lines (human, animal, stem, and reporter-labeled), primary cells, and media/reagents. These are complemented by professional cell culture services including mycoplasma testing, STR authentication, assay-ready cell preparation, cell banking, and sample storage. A specialized offering includes 272 HLA-typed cell lines with high-resolution NGS typing for immunological research. The company operates under ISO 9001:2015 certification and serves researchers in over 80 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cell Lines (Human and Animal) Authenticated human and animal cell lines that are STR-profiled and screened for mycoplasma, viruses, bacteria, and fungi. The portfolio spans over 1,000 cell lines across human cells, animal cells, stem cells, and reporter-labeled cells, sold per vial at €430–€800+ depending on the line.
• Primary Cells High-quality primary cells including fibroblasts, HUVEC, and oral cells for research applications requiring cells isolated directly from tissue without extended passaging.
• Stem Cells Stem cell products including iPSCs and adult stem cells for research applications spanning developmental biology, regenerative medicine studies, and disease modeling.
• Reporter-Labeled Cells Engineered cell lines with reporter labels (e.g., fluorescent or luminescent markers) for use in various research applications including gene expression studies, signaling pathway analysis, and high-content screening assays.
• HLA-Typed Cell Lines Authenticated cell lines with high-resolution Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) HLA typing across eight loci (Class I: A, B, C; Class II: DRB1, DQA1, DQB1, DPB1; non-classical: E). A collection of 272 HLA-typed cell lines designed for immunological and transplant research.
• Cell Culture Media Culture media formulations designed for optimal cell growth and maintenance of the various cell lines offered, supporting routine cell culture workflows.
• Buffer and Supplements Buffer solutions and supplements to support cell culture workflows, including pH-stabilizing buffers and growth-promoting supplements.
• Cell Detachment Reagents Reagents and solutions for cell detachment from culture surfaces, including enzymatic and non-enzymatic dissociation reagents for cell passaging and harvesting.
• Mycoplasma Detection Test Service using PCR-based and culture-based assays to confirm the absence of mycoplasma contamination in customer cell lines prior to release or use in downstream applications.
• Cell Line Authentication (STR) Short Tandem Repeat (STR) profiling service to validate cell line identity and ensure traceability, addressing misidentification concerns that affect research reproducibility.
• Assay-Ready Cell Service Professional preparation of cells ready for immediate assay implementation, reducing researcher prep time by delivering cells in assay-ready formats.
• Cell Culture Expansion Professional cell culture expansion services to scale up cell cultures to the quantities required by researchers or for downstream bioprocess applications.
• Cell Banking Secure cryogenic storage and banking services for valuable cell lines, preserving them under controlled conditions for long-term research continuity.
• Sample Storage Service Long-term storage solutions for biological samples under controlled environmental conditions, supporting research continuity and sample preservation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60-day viability guarantee on all cell products from shipment date
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• AsedaSciencesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026Exclusive partnership making Cytion the sole cell line partner for AsedaSciences' 3RnD cloud platform. Combines Cytion's authenticated human cell models with AsedaSciences' AI-driven phenotypic screening to help researchers identify compound safety and toxicity risks earlier in drug development. The collaboration introduces an integrated target-to-cell workflow allowing scientists to search cell lines by biological target and proceed directly to ordering, streamlining experimental setup. The partnership rolls out in phases with pilot users to refine the target-to-cell discovery experience.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ATCC (American Type Culture Collection): The dominant global biorepository of authenticated cell lines, microorganisms, and biological materials for research. Most direct competitor to Cytion, with deeper catalog and brand recognition among academic and pharma researchers.
• DSMZ (Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures): German cell line and microorganism repository offering authenticated cell lines for research. Most comparable European peer to Cytion given geographic proximity and overlapping catalog, including many cell lines served to academic and pharma customers.
• Coriell Institute for Medical Research: US-based non-profit biorepository distributing authenticated human cell lines and DNA samples for research. Comparable in mission and product offering (authenticated cell lines, HLA-typed lines, sample storage) to Cytion.
• ECACC (European Collection of Authenticated Cell Cultures): Operated by Culture Collections (UK Health Security Agency), ECACC distributes authenticated cell lines primarily for academic and pharma research. Direct peer serving overlapping European research customers.

Broad incumbents

• Thermo Fisher Scientific (Gibco): Largest life sciences tools supplier, offering cell lines and cell culture media/reagents as part of the broader Gibco portfolio. Competes with Cytion on cell lines but operates at much larger scale across many product categories.
• Merck KGaA / Sigma-Aldrich: Global life sciences supplier distributing cell lines (via Sigma-Aldrich) alongside a vast catalog of reagents, media, and lab consumables. Overlaps with Cytion on cell line distribution but competes primarily as a one-stop-shop alternative.
• Lonza: Major cell and gene therapy CDMO offering cell line engineering, banking, and manufacturing services. Broadly comparable to Cytion on cell culture services but operates at significantly larger scale and focuses on clinical/commercial manufacturing.

Regional players

• JCRB Cell Bank (National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation): Japanese national cell line repository distributing authenticated cell lines to researchers in Asia. Comparable in offering (authenticated cell lines, HLA data) but serves primarily Asian markets rather than competing directly with Cytion in Europe/Americas.
• Cell Bank Australia (Children's Medical Research Institute): Australian non-profit cell line repository serving research customers in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. Comparable offering (authenticated cell lines, cell banking services) with regional rather than direct competition with Cytion.

Emerging players

• XCell Science: Specialized provider of iPSC-derived neuronal and glial cell models for neuroscience research. Emerging peer offering higher-value differentiated cell models — adjacent to Cytion's stem cell and specialty cell line portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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 Cytion