What Molzym does

Molzym GmbH & Co. KG is a privately held molecular diagnostics company headquartered in Bremen, Germany, founded in 2003 and acquired by Bruker Corporation in November 2025. The company develops and sells culture-independent diagnostic and life-science research products for the detection and identification of bacterial and fungal pathogens directly from clinical specimens. Its core technology platform is the proprietary MolYsis™ method, which selectively depletes up to 99% of human host DNA from clinical samples (whole blood, cerebrospinal fluid, joint aspirates, tissue biopsies) via selective host cell lysis and nuclease digestion, while preserving microbial cells through their rigid cell walls — enabling downstream broad-range 16S (bacteria) and 18S (fungi) rRNA gene PCR and Sanger sequencing identification against a curated BLAST reference database of more than 7,000 bacterial and 340 fungal species.

The product portfolio spans CE-IVD-marked clinical diagnostics (SepsiTest™-UMD manual kit, Micro-Dx™ on SelectNA™plus, and the IVDR-compliant MolYsis-SNplus™ IVD), a fully automated SelectNA™plus bench-top robot for walk-away microbial DNA extraction (1-12 samples per run), research-use reagents including DNA-free PCR master mixes (MolTaq, Hot MolTaq, Mastermix 16S/18S), and Ultra-Deep Microbiome Prep kits for NGS applications. Services include mastermix purification, free SepsiTest™ BLAST sequence analysis, and licensing of Molzym's host DNA removal and PCR decontamination know-how. The company holds EN ISO 13485 certification, IVDR compliance, and an FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for its molecular diagnostic system covering sepsis, joint and implant infections, infective endocarditis, and bacterial meningitis.

Molzym operates a sales-led go-to-market model: direct sales in Germany and a distributor network covering approximately 30 countries, with named regional partners across Europe, North America, Asia Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, India), the Middle East, and Africa. Pricing is quote-based across all products with no public list prices. Customers include clinical laboratories, hospital microbiology departments, and academic research institutions, with documented use cases at Labor Berlin – Charité Vivantes, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and LMU Munich. Revenue is generated from one-time sales of IVD kits, life-science consumables, instruments, and recurring services/licensing. The company has 11-50 employees and previously raised a double-digit million EUR capital increase from a single family office in June 2022 to fund US and China market entry.

Name

Molzym

Legal name

Molzym GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://molzym.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Molzym GmbH & Co. KG, founded in 2003 in Bremen, Germany and acquired by Bruker Corporation in 2025, develops CE-IVD-marked molecular diagnostic kits and automated instruments (SepsiTest™-UMD, Micro-Dx™, MolYsis-SNplus™ IVD, SelectNA™plus) for culture-independent detection of bacterial and fungal pathogens in clinical specimens, sold to hospitals, clinical laboratories, and research institutions in approximately 30 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

In Vitro Molecular Diagnostics

NAICS

In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413)

SIC

In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Molecular Diagnostics (PCR/NAAT/NGS-based IVD) (HLAHAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Microbiology & Infectious Disease Diagnostics (Culture/ID/AST) (HLAHAAAC), Molecular Biology & Genomics Instruments (PCR/qPCR, Sequencing, Microarrays) (HLAGAIAF)

Keywords

• Molecular pathogen diagnostics
• Clinical IVD kits
• Host DNA depletion
• Microbiome analysis reagents
• Automated DNA extraction

Headquarters

HQ city

Bremen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. IVD Diagnostic Kits: Sale of CE IVD-marked diagnostic kits including SepsiTest™-UMD and Micro-Dx™ for culture-independent pathogen detection in clinical specimens. These kits include reagents for human DNA depletion, microbial DNA isolation, and 16S/18S PCR assays.
2. Life Science Research Products: Sale of research-use products including MolYsis™ kits for host DNA depletion, DNA-free PCR reagents (MolTaq, Hot MolTaq, Mastermix), Ultra-Deep Microbiome Prep kits for NGS applications, and SelectNA™plus instruments.
3. Services: Services include Mastermix Purification Service for decontamination of customer master mixes, Sequence Analysis Software (SepsiTest™ BLAST), and licensing opportunities for Molzym's technologies including host DNA removal methods and PCR decontamination know-how.
4. Instrument Sales: Sale of SelectNA™plus robotic instruments for automated microbial DNA extraction. Instruments are sold alongside consumable kits for ongoing revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Molzym develops, manufactures, and sells molecular diagnostic kits, instruments, and reagents for culture-independent detection of bacterial and fungal pathogens. The portfolio centers on the proprietary MolYsis™ host DNA depletion technology combined with broad-range 16S/18S rRNA PCR assays, sold as CE IVD-marked clinical diagnostic products (SepsiTest™-UMD, Micro-Dx™, MolYsis-SNplus™ IVD) and as life science research kits (MolYsis™ Basic5, Ultra-Deep Microbiome Prep, DNA-free PCR reagents), supported by the SelectNA™plus automated extraction robot and the SepsiTest™ BLAST online identification software.

Product overview

Molzym offers a comprehensive portfolio of molecular diagnostic and life science products focused on culture-independent pathogen detection. The portfolio is organized into Clinical Diagnostics (CE IVD-marked products) and Life Science (research use products) categories. Key products include SepsiTest™-UMD CE IVD for manual molecular pathogen diagnosis, Micro-Dx™ CE IVD for automated diagnosis using the SelectNA™plus robot, and MolYsis-SN*plus*™ IVD for automated DNA isolation. The MolYsis™ technology platform enables host DNA depletion for improved molecular analysis. Supporting products include DNA-free PCR reagents (MolTaq, Hot MolTaq, Mastermix products), Ultra-Deep Microbiome Prep kits for NGS applications, and standard Taq DNA polymerases. Services include mastermix purification, sequence analysis software (SepsiTest™ BLAST), and licensing opportunities. The company was acquired by Bruker Corporation in late 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SepsiTest™-UMD CE IVD CE IVD-marked molecular test kit for culture-independent detection and identification of bacterial and fungal pathogens in body fluids, tissues, and swabs via 16S and 18S rRNA gene PCR and Sanger sequencing, for clinical laboratories performing molecular infectious disease diagnostics.
• Micro-Dx™ CE IVD Fully automated pathogen DNA enrichment and isolation system combining the SelectNA™plus robot with broad-range 16S and 18S PCR assays, designed for routine molecular diagnosis of bacterial and fungal pathogens in clinical laboratories.
• MolYsis-SN*plus*™ IVD IVDR-compliant, fully automated kit for human DNA depletion and bacterial/fungal DNA isolation from diverse clinical specimens, used with the SelectNA™plus instrument for clinical diagnostic workflows.
• SelectNA™plus Robot Bench-top robotic instrument for fully automated microbial DNA extraction from clinical specimens, with capacity for 1-12 samples per run and integrated UV decontamination.
• MolYsis™ Basic5 Manual research-use kit for host DNA depletion from liquid biopsies (0.2-1 ml or 5 ml volumes), combinable with any microbial DNA isolation kit, for life science researchers.
• MolYsis™ Complete5 Complete manual research-use kit combining host DNA depletion and microbial DNA isolation from liquid biopsies with validated protocols for life science researchers.
• Ultra-Deep Microbiome Prep Research-use kit for host DNA depletion and microbial DNA isolation from 0.2-1 ml liquid samples or tissue specimens for next-generation sequencing (NGS) microbiome analysis.
• Ultra-Deep Microbiome Prep10 Research-use kit for host DNA depletion and microbial DNA isolation from 1-10 ml liquid samples or tissue specimens for deeper NGS microbiome analysis.
• MolYsis-SelectNA™plus Automated research-use kit for enrichment and isolation of microbial DNA from body fluids, tissues, and swabs using the SelectNA™plus robot.
• DNA-Free PCR Reagents (MolTaq, Hot MolTaq, Mastermix 16S/18S Basic, Mastermix 16S/18S Dye, Mastermix 16S Complete, Mastermix 18S Complete, DNA-free Water) DNA-free PCR reagents line including MolTaq 16S/18S DNA polymerases, Hot MolTaq polymerase, Mastermix products (Basic, Dye, 16S Complete, 18S Complete), and PCR-grade DNA-free water, validated for up to 40 amplification cycles without false positive background.
• MolTaq Standard PCR Reagents Standard highly processive Taq DNA polymerase for routine PCR applications with 5'-3' exonuclease activity, sold under the MolTaq brand.
• UMD-Tubes Research-use cryo-protectant vials for long-term storage of clinical fluid samples at -70 to -80°C, protecting pathogens from freeze-thaw damage.
• Mastermix Purification Service Custom service for setup and decontamination of customer master mixes, leveraging Molzym's DNA-free reagent expertise to ensure optimal assay performance without reagent contamination.
• SepsiTest™ BLAST Sequence Analysis Software Free online BLAST bioinformatics tool for 16S and 18S rDNA sequence analysis, containing quality-edited full-length sequences of 7,042 cultivated bacteria and 342 cultivated fungi for species-level pathogen identification.
• Technology Licensing Program Licensing program offering access to Molzym's proprietary host DNA removal methods and PCR decontamination know-how for assay development by partner companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% diagnostic sensitivity (95% CI: 83.8 to 94.2%) and 85% specificity (95% CI: 76.5 to 93.5%) in 409 comparative analyses
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Bruker CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 November 2025Molzym was acquired by Bruker Corporation in late 2025 (announced November 26, 2025). This acquisition strengthens Bruker's portfolio in molecular diagnostics and clinical research. Molzym operations continue as usual with same products, services, and supply processes. Contact emails updated to @bruker.com domain.
• French Society of Microbiology (SFM)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 December 2022Partnership announced December 2022 to promote and stimulate the field of microbiology. Both organizations share desire to create synergies with experts to develop innovative and clinically relevant solutions for microbiology and infectious disease actors.
• Fraunhofer IZI-BBminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 December 2020Joint research and development project funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and federal state of Brandenburg (ILB) to develop automated sepsis diagnostic (AutoSepT) for fast testing in clinical laboratories.
• Gradian DiagnosticsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 December 2019Molzym joined Gradian Diagnostics in December 2019. Gradian is a holding company based in Miami, USA working on expanding diagnostic solutions through acquisitions. Molzym's team, locations, and operations remained unchanged following this acquisition.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bruker Corporation: Parent company since late 2025 and broader life sciences tools and diagnostics company; MALDI Biotyper provides culture-based microbial ID that complements or competes with Molzym's culture-independent approach within the same microbiology workflows and customer base.
• Cepheid (Danaher): Developer of the GeneXpert molecular diagnostics platform with broad syndromic panels for infectious disease; competes as a larger incumbent with established hospital sales channels and FDA-cleared pathogen detection assays serving similar clinical laboratory customers.
• Hologic: Broad women's health and molecular diagnostics company with the Panther Fusion and Panther platforms for infectious disease testing; acquired Mobidiag in 2022 adding molecular GI infection diagnostics, positioning as a larger competitor in molecular pathogen detection.
• Qiagen: Global molecular diagnostics and sample technologies company with the QIAstat-Dx syndromic panel system; competes as a broader incumbent offering pathogen detection workflows across multiple sample types and clinical indications, with overlapping customer base in clinical microbiology laboratories.

Direct peers

• Q-linea: Swedish diagnostics company developing the ASTar system for rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing directly from clinical samples; directly competes in culture-independent pathogen diagnostics for bloodstream infections with comparable technology positioning.
• Accelerate Diagnostics: Maker of the Accelerate Pheno system for rapid identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) directly from positive blood cultures; directly comparable as a rapid molecular/fluorometric diagnostics company targeting bloodstream infection diagnostics in similar clinical indications.
• Karius: Developer of cell-free DNA next-generation sequencing-based pathogen detection from blood; directly comparable as an unbiased molecular pathogen diagnostics company serving similar clinical indications including sepsis and difficult-to-diagnose infections.
• bioMérieux: Global leader in clinical microbiology diagnostics, including the BioFire FilmArray syndromic molecular panels and VITEK mass spectrometry ID; directly comparable as a microbiology-focused diagnostics company with overlapping pathogen detection offerings and similar hospital laboratory customers.
• Specific Diagnostics: Developer of the REVEAL Rapid ID/AST system using proprietary volatile metabolomics for culture-free pathogen identification; overlaps with Molzym's culture-independent diagnostic approach for serious infections and similar hospital laboratory customers.
• T2 Biosystems: Developer of T2 Magnetic Resonance-based molecular diagnostics for bloodstream infections (T2Bacteria, T2Candida); directly competes in culture-independent pathogen detection from whole blood with similar sepsis diagnostic value proposition and clinical workflow.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutu.be/CO9MPKQTCgI

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Molzym