Sanbio
Sanbio is a privately held Dutch life science product distributor headquartered in Uden that serves research institutions, academic medical centers, and diagnostics companies across the BeNeLux region with biochemicals, cell biology products, biospecimens, and labware from 100+ global supplier brands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersUden, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Sanbio does
Sanbio B.V. is a privately held Dutch life science product distributor headquartered in Uden, Netherlands, founded in 1978. The company serves research institutions, academic medical centers, and diagnostics companies across the BeNeLux region (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) with a horizontal product portfolio spanning twelve research categories: biochemicals, blood and biospecimens, cell biology, environmental, flow cytometry, forensic science, genomics, immunology, labware, microbiology, pathology, and transplantation. Its catalog includes over 263,840 biochemical SKUs, 9,375+ blood and biospecimen items, 5,093+ cell biology items, and 1,364+ environmental items, sourced from 100+ international supplier brands.
Sanbio operates as an exclusive BeNeLux distributor for major life science suppliers including Cayman Chemical (15,000+ biochemical products), ScienCell Research Laboratories, MBL International, Zymo Research, Bethyl Laboratories, Hycult Biotech, and StressMarq Biosciences. The company distinguishes itself from pure catalog resellers through in-house custom antibody development capability, dedicated technical support for product selection, ethically sourced biospecimen supply via a strategic partnership with London-based Research Donors, and a complementary Lab Services offering. Its value proposition ("Knowledge makes the difference") centers on local Dutch-language technical consultation rather than transactional distribution. The company holds ISO 9001:2018 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications and a Silver-level EcoVadis sustainability rating valid through June 2026.
Commercially, Sanbio generates revenue primarily through one-time product sales at unit-based pricing that ranges from under €50 for small biochemicals (e.g., €37 for Levetiracetam 500ug) to over €68,571 for bulk reagents (SM-102 60g), with selective quote-based pricing for high-value items. Distribution occurs through the company's own e-commerce platform (sanbio.nl), email-based B2B ordering (confirmations within one working day), and a marketplace listing on Scientist.com. Customers include major Dutch and Belgian research institutions (Prinses Máxima Center, Radboud University Medical Center, Amsterdam UMC, Leiden University Medical Center, Hubrecht Institute Utrecht, Antwerp University Hospital) and diagnostics partners (Diagnostic BioSystems, D-Tek S.A., Cell Marque). The company employs 11–50 people, has no disclosed external funding, and operates autonomously with no identified parent company or recent ownership changes.
Sanbio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sanbio
- Legal name
- Sanbio B.V.
- Website
- https://sanbio.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sanbio is a privately held Dutch life science product distributor headquartered in Uden that serves research institutions, academic medical centers, and diagnostics companies across the BeNeLux region with biochemicals, cell biology products, biospecimens, and labware from 100+ global supplier brands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sanbio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Life Science Distribution
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biologics & Biosimilars Distributors (HLAIAJAH)
Keywords
Where Sanbio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Uden
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sanbio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Product Distribution Sales: Sanbio generates revenue through the sale of life science products including biochemicals, cell biology products, blood and biospecimens, and labware to research and diagnostic customers in the BeNeLux region. Products are sold as one-time transactions with varying unit sizes and quantities.
- Lab Services: The company offers lab services alongside product distribution, providing additional revenue streams through service-based engagements with customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Unit pricing for biochemicals and research products |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Quote-based pricing for select products |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Sanbio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sanbio is a specialized B2B distributor of life science research and diagnostics products in the BeNeLux region. It resells biochemicals, antibodies, cell biology reagents, biospecimens, labware, and instruments sourced from over 100 international suppliers, while also providing in-house custom antibody development, certified lab services, and technical product support to research institutions, hospitals, and diagnostics companies.
Product overview
Sanbio is a distributor of life science products and services for research and diagnostics serving the BeNeLux region. The company operates an e-commerce platform offering products across 12 research areas: Biochemicals, Blood and Biospecimens, Cell Biology, Environmental, Flow Cytometry, Forensic Science, Genomics, Immunology, Labware, Microbiology, Pathology, and Transplantation. Sanbio distributes products from multiple international suppliers including Cayman Chemical, Zymo Research, ScienCell Research Laboratories, Research Donors, AMSBIO, and many others. The portfolio includes biochemicals, antibodies, cell lines, assay kits, recombinant proteins, biospecimens, and 3D cell culture products. The company also offers Lab Services as an additional offering alongside its product distribution business.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Life Science Research Products Distribution Distribution of life science research and diagnostics products spanning bioanalysis, cell biology, blood and biospecimens, labware, and instruments. Products are sourced from over 100 international manufacturers and resold to research institutions, hospitals, diagnostics labs, and industrial customers in the BeNeLux region.
- Sanbio Antibodies (Custom Antibody Development) In-house custom antibody development and production service for researchers and diagnostics developers needing bespoke antibodies.
- Lab Services Certified laboratory services delivered under ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, supporting customers with testing and analytical work within the Sanbio quality system.
Quantifiable outcome
- Extensive supplier network with 100+ partners providing comprehensive product coverage
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Sanbio
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sanbio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature1 record
Sanbio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Research DonorscoreLondon-based blood clinic partnership providing Sanbio customers with access to healthy fresh and frozen human blood products as well as other biospecimens for life science research. The partnership emphasizes traceability, ethical sourcing under EU guidelines, and full donor consent.
- Cayman ChemicalcoreSanbio is the exclusive distributor of Cayman Chemical products in the BeNeLux region. Cayman Chemical supplies over 15,000 biochemical products including antibodies, assay kits, and recombinant proteins developed and tested by their team of scientists.
- MBL InternationalmajorMBL International supplies specialized reagents and kits for biomedical research, with emphasis on immunology, cell biology, and virology, including antibodies and assay kits.
- ScienCell Research LaboratoriesmajorCalifornia-based biotechnology company and largest supplier of normal primary cells, offering 3D cell culture products, spheroids, and specialized cell culture reagents.
- Zymo ResearchmajorSupplier of epigenetics, DNA/RNA purification, and microbiome research products, featured in Sanbio's blog and product categories.
- Bethyl LaboratoriesmajorSupplier of antibodies for life science research, featured in Sanbio's supplier portfolio.
- Hycult BiotechmajorSupplier of immunology research products available through Sanbio's distribution network.
- StressMarq BiosciencesmajorSupplier of cell biology and stress-related research products, featured in Sanbio's cell biology and other categories.
- AMSBIOmajorSupplier recently acquired by Europa Biosite, providing life science products available through Sanbio.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sanbio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Eurogentec: Belgian life science research products manufacturer and supplier with deep roots in BeNeLux academic research, including oligonucleotides, antibodies, and reagents. Comparable in customer overlap and regional positioning to Sanbio, though with more proprietary manufacturing capability.
- Carl Roth: German laboratory supplies distributor offering biochemicals, reagents, and consumables to research and industrial customers. Comparable regional B2B distribution model with a strong catalogue and direct customer relationships across the DACH region.
- Stratech Scientific: UK-based life science distributor with a similar multi-supplier model covering antibodies, biochemicals, and cell biology. Recently acquired by Europa Biosite alongside AMSBIO, illustrating the consolidation wave affecting Sanbio's competitive set.
- Europa Biosite: European life science distribution platform that has acquired AMSBIO, Stratech, and is itself being acquired by EQT. Represents the consolidated, scaled-up version of Sanbio's model and is both a competitive threat and a potential acquirer.
- AMSBIO: Life science distributor specialising in cell biology, stem cell, and 3D culture products with a comparable supplier-driven catalogue. Recently acquired by Europa Biosite and continues to operate with overlapping product categories (ScienCell primary cells, similar reagent lines) to Sanbio.
- Tebu-bio: European life science products distributor serving Benelux and broader Europe with a multi-supplier portfolio of biochemicals, antibodies, and cell biology reagents. Operates a near-identical distribution-plus-technical-support business model to Sanbio, making it the closest direct competitor in the European mid-market.
Broad incumbents
- Cell Signaling Technology: Specialised research antibody and immunology reagent company with direct European distribution. Comparable in the antibody and immunology product categories that Sanbio distributes for suppliers like Bethyl and Hycult Biotech.
- Bio-Rad Laboratories: Global life science research products company with direct sales across Europe in biochemicals, antibodies, and cell biology reagents. Comparable product categories to Sanbio's portfolio but operates at much greater scale with proprietary manufacturing and direct-to-customer channels.
- Avantor (VWR): Global laboratory supplies distributor serving research, diagnostics, and biopharma customers across Europe. Overlaps with Sanbio on general labware and biochemical distribution but at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
Others
- Cayman Chemical: Sanbio's most important exclusive BeNeLux supplier and a major biochemical products company. Not a direct competitor in BeNeLux but represents the type of upstream supplier whose direct sales strategy could bypass regional distributors like Sanbio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sanbio social profiles
Digital presenceSanbio compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Sanbio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sanbio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Sanbio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sanbio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sanbio
What does Sanbio do?
Sanbio is a specialized B2B distributor of life science research and diagnostics products in the BeNeLux region. It resells biochemicals, antibodies, cell biology reagents, biospecimens, labware, and instruments sourced from over 100 international suppliers, while also providing in-house custom antibody development, certified lab services, and technical product support to research institutions, hospitals, and diagnostics companies.
Is Sanbio a public or private company?
Sanbio is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Sanbio founded?
Sanbio was founded in 1978. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sanbio based?
Sanbio is headquartered in Uden, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Sanbio make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Product Distribution Sales are the primary driver. The others are lab Services.
Who are Sanbio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Eurogentec, Carl Roth, Stratech Scientific, Europa Biosite, AMSBIO and Tebu-bio. Broad incumbents are Cell Signaling Technology, Bio-Rad Laboratories and Avantor (VWR). Cayman Chemical is listed as an others.
Does Sanbio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sanbio.
What industry is Sanbio in?
Sanbio's product category is Life Science Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAJAH, Biologics & Biosimilars Distributors. Its SIC code is 2836.